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Former Steelers, Giants lineman Jim Clack dies at 58

2006-04-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

Jim Clack, a guard on two Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers teams in the 1970s, died of heart failure. He was 58.

Clack had fought neck and throat cancer for about four years before his death at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, wife Susan Clack said.

Clack, who helped the Steelers win Super Bowls following the 1974 and 1975 seasons, played in 146 NFL games between 1971 and 1981. He played for Pittsburgh for seven season before joining the New York Giants in 1978 and playing for four more years.

Born in Rocky Mount, Clack attended Wake Forest and entered the school's hall of fame in 1991. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

He returned to North Carolina after his football career, developing commercial and residential real estate and owning a restaurant. He started a sales training business and worked as a motivational speaker.

Clack also is survived by his stepchildren, Joseph and Lindsay Curtis, both of Wilmington.
A funeral is scheduled for April 10 at Cornerstone Baptist Church with burial at Westminster Gardens in Greensboro. A memorial service in scheduled for April 11 at Lakeside Baptist Church in Rocky Mount.

CB Clements a no-show at Bills minicamp

2006-04-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

Nate Clements was a no-show when the Buffalo Bills opened a voluntary minicamp because he failed to accept a one-year contract as the team's franchise player.

New coach Dick Jauron said it was important for the star cornerback to attend camp to learn the new defensive system Jauron and coordinator Perry Fewell are implementing.

"We'd like to have him in, but we also understand his position in this thing," said Jauron, who took over after Mike Mularkey's abrupt resignation in January. "It'll straighten itself out over time one way or the other. We obviously value his abilities a great deal."

The Bills designated Clements their franchise player in February. The move means the Bills are committed to paying him about $7.2 million next season. The two sides are attempting to negotiate a long-term contract.

Clements' agent, Todd France, said there were "no new developments at this time," in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Clements doesn't have to accept the offer, and the Bills can withdraw the deal at any time.
Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Clements is a five-year starter who leads the team with 20 interceptions, four of which he's returned for touchdowns.

The three-day minicamp ends April 9.

Two other players -- running back Willis McGahee and linebacker Takeo Spikes -- also were absent.

Jauron said McGahee had a scheduling conflict, but it's possible he will attend the final two days of camp. Spikes continues to recuperate after having surgery to repair an Achilles' tendon he tore in Week 3 of last season.

Spikes isn't expected to fully recover until the start of training camp in July.

avre still undecided about 2006 season

2006-04-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

Brett Favre still is unsure if he will play another year with the Green Bay Packers.

"No change. I don't know, once again," he said during a brief news conference from the site of his charity golf tournament. "I don't know why you guys wasted a trip down here. The Packers and I will make a decision at some point soon."

The 36-year-old Favre -- whose grit, durability and cannon arm have become his trademark -- is the NFL's only three-time MVP (1995-97).

"I know people are getting impatient," he said. "But enjoy baseball right now."

Favre acknowledged that football is "in my blood," but he insisted he has not made up his mind, and he is not withholding his decision.

"No, I don't think that's fair to the Packers," he said. "If I knew one way or the other, for sure, and I wouldn't tell the Packers or not tell the media, that's unfair."
"I think the Packers have to go in a certain direction at some point," he added. "When I do know, I would tell them as soon as possible -- maybe within the next week. It has been a strain on the family as well."

Favre was joined by his agent, Bus Cook, and a representative for the Mississippi Delta casino where the tournament is being held. Wearing shorts and a golf cap, Favre concluded the news conference about an hour before playing golf. The tournament is about 400 miles, at the opposite end of the state, from his hometown of Kiln.

The former Southern Mississippi quarterback ranks second behind Dan Marino on the NFL's career list in touchdown passes (396), yards passing (53,615) and completions (4,678). He holds the NFL record for most consecutive starts for a quarterback with 221 (241 including the playoffs).

Favre has led the Packers to six division crowns, restoring success to one of the NFL's most famous franchises. The Packers won Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans, a 35-21 victory against New England, returning the Lombardi Trophy to Green Bay for the first time in 29 years.
"Maybe we don't get back to the Super Bowl, I don't know that, but I'd like to think we can compete for it," Favre said. "I want to feel like we can compete for the Super Bowl, not just say that to say it."

Last season, he suffered a career-high 29 interceptions and failed to throw for more than 20 touchdowns for only the second time since 1993. The Packers finished 4-12 for their first losing season since he joined the team in 1992.

"When I left after the season, yeah, it was tough to be excited about football. But it's in my blood," Favre said. "As time has passed, I have forgotten a little about the 4-12 season and think more about the good times. If I decide to come back and play, that's really what I'm deciding to come back to -- the fun."

There are concerns about the team's offensive line, which struggled last season after the departure of stalwart guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera to free agency. Favre also wants to make sure the Packers are going to be competitive after a dreadful 2005 season.
Speculation about Favre's future has become an annual rite of winter in Wisconsin. He has spoken of retirement in years past, only to return.

"I'm sure I would miss it, but at some point it has to end," Favre said. "At some point, you have to give it up."

Through it all, there has been a string of family troubles. His father died in December 2003. His wife, Deanna, survived breast cancer and mourned the death of her brother in an all-terrain vehicle accident. Several members of Favre's family in Mississippi were displaced because of Hurricane Katrina.

Favre memorably threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders one day after his father's death.

"There are other things to do and focus on right now (besides football)," Favre said, referring to his charity. "And I say do that, because that's what I'm trying to do. I want to make the right decision, but I have other things on my plate as well."

Hawk: All part of the process

2006-04-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

I'm back at school now and spring quarter started on Monday (March 27) so things have been very busy. I have one last class to take before graduating in June with my degree in criminology. Classes are four days a week so it's a full schedule. I also am interviewing with teams on the phone and in person. Between that and working out, my day actually gets pretty full. I don't want to make it sound like my schedule is any busier than any other college athletes though. Any college athlete goes through this; just instead of practice I do interviews and work out. Everybody is busy when you are in college; it's just a difference of activities.

Preparing for the NFL draft has been a full-time activity. First, there was the Scouting Combine, then Pro Day and now there are individual team workouts and interviews. Some are in person and some interviews are on the phone. It's fun thinking about playing in the NFL, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. I know it's a cliché, but I'm just taking things one step at a time. I grew up a Bengals fan, but I'd honestly be happy to play anywhere. Playing at Ohio State makes playing in cold weather a non-factor and I really don't mind moving to any part of the country.

I started to think about the NFL some time around my junior year. That is probably when I first realized that I could end up being a player in the NFL and hoping it would happen. I went to high school and played college football with Mike Nugent, who was drafted by the Jets last year as their kicker. He's given me some good advice about how to manage everything and some of the other guys on OSU and I talk often about it, so hopefully we are staying grounded through the process. There are a lot of Ohio State players in the NFL, so I know a little about what to expect. But you really need to do these things yourself to figure it all out.

I'm planning on heading up to Notre Dame on April 22nd for their spring game. Brady Quinn and I are friends now and I want to go see the game. I was at Notre Dame once when my brother was being recruited there, but I don't remember it well. I'm looking forward to seeing the campus and the stadium up close.

I've always been a fan of the draft so I can't wait for April 29th. I'm going to be watching it with my family at home. This year's draft will be a great one. There are so many great players in it at all positions -- (Reggie) Bush and (Matt) Leinart and (Vince) Young and (D'Brickashaw) Ferguson. It's such a deep class that watching as a fan will be great, let alone as someone who could be drafted.

The next few weeks should be pretty exciting and I look forward to the excitement of graduating and moving on to the next stage of my life.

Packers not pressuring Favre for decision

2006-04-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Green Bay Packers aren't pressuring Brett Favre to make a retirement decision by the April 1 due date for a $3 million roster bonus. And even if they were, the quarterback doesn't think he owes the team a decision this weekend anyway.

In his most recent comments about his murky football future, Favre made one thing clear: If he does return, he told a newspaper in his native Mississippi there is "no doubt" it will be his last season.

Favre's retirement saga has turned into pro football's version of Groundhog Day, as fans and the media try to predict the future based upon brief public glimpses of the iconic QB during the winter.

The April 1 bonus due date recently has been interpreted as a deadline from the team's management for Favre to make a decision. But Favre doesn't seem inclined to meet it, and the Packers aren't going to hold him to it.

"If I don't tell them by Saturday, what will they do, cut me?" Favre told the Sun Herald in Gulfport, Miss.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson already has moved the roster bonus deadline back to accommodate his star quarterback, and he seems willing to do so again.
"No, it never has been (a deadline)," Thompson told The Associated Press. "It's just another date in the spring."

Thompson, who has remained in contact with Favre during the offseason, said he hasn't heard anything that would indicate a decision is imminent.

"We've talked to Brett and (wife) Deanna, and I've said all along that they'll decide when they decide," Thompson said.

Favre said he wants to play again but will return only if the Packers can assemble a winning team.

"Last season, expectations were high and it was a bad situation," Favre said of the team's 4-12 season, his only losing one in Green Bay. "If we can't compete at a high level, I can walk away and my legacy will speak for itself."

Thompson said Favre's unclear future isn't having a negative effect on the team's preparations for next season. But the sooner Favre decides, the better.

"It's OK now," Thompson said. "I think everybody would like to know. I think Brett would like to know."

The Packers did not pursue experienced quarterbacks such as Aaron Brooks and Brian Griese in free agency, but Thompson said that was not an indication that the Packers are assuming Favre will return.

Aaron Rodgers, the team's first-round draft pick last season, is presumed to be in line to take over the starting role if Favre retires. But Thompson said the team would look to add a more experienced quarterback, possibly through a trade, if Favre does retire.

"Obviously, with Brett not in the equation, we might have to add another type of player," Thompson said.

But Thompson hopes it doesn't come to that.

Favre, who was in Gulfport, Miss., to award grants to help youth football groups rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, said he has been talking to the team for the past month and there are things that both parties have to sort out.

"If they don't come together, I guess I won't play," Favre said. "I don't know if my decision will be made by Saturday (April 1)."

Favre said some days he wants to play and other days he wants to retire. Knowing he can still compete at a high level is making the decision tough, he said.

Giants, Jets get revised deal for new stadium

2006-04-01T16:04:00.000-08:00

The New York Giants and Jets moved a step closer to their new home in the Meadowlands.
Officials from New Jersey, the Giants and the Jets said March 31 they've made several changes to an agreement signed last fall that will create a new, $1 billion football stadium in East Rutherford.

Under the updated stadium agreement, the state would not be required to pay for $30 million of infrastructure costs around the stadium, said Gary Rose, chief of the governor's office of economic growth.

The stadium is expected to open for the 2010 season and will seat about 81,000.
The new stadium agreement comes after Gov. Jon S. Corzine earlier this month questioned the financial terms of the original deal, brokered by his predecessor, former Gov. Richard J. Codey.
The teams would also be allowed to collect money for naming rights to the stadium and the complex as a whole, with the exception of the Continental Airlines Arena and a new entertainment and retail development that is being built there.

The state also would drop its pursuit of a retractable dome for the new arena, Rose said. Team owners had said they would kill the earlier agreement if the state forced them to pay for a roof.
"Governor Codey made a tremendous effort to keep the Giants and Jets in New Jersey and today's announcement confirms the partnership that has been fostered between New Jersey and the teams," Corzine said in a statement. "The stadium that will be built will be a world-class facility that will set a new standard for football venues."

The owners of the teams said in a joint statement that they are pleased with the updated agreement.

"We are very grateful to the governor for recognizing the importance of this project," said Woody Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of the Jets. "We are looking forward to moving ahead and beginning work on the new stadium as planned."
In September, the Giants and Jets agreed to jointly finance the new stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

While the Giants will build their own training facility on a site within the Meadowlands, the Jets will move their headquarters and practice facility to Floral Park from Hempstead, N.Y., in the summer of 2007.

Burleson a Seahawk after Vikings don't match

2006-04-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

A unique fight over restricted free agents between Seattle and Minnesota ended when the Vikings chose not to match the Seahawks' contract offer to receiver Nate Burleson.
Vikings vice president for football operations Rob Brzezinski confirmed the decision, which allowed Burleson to join his hometown team.

"This is a dream come true for Nate," his agent, Ken Sarnoff, said. "That seven years after being named the Seattle High School athlete of the year, he now plays for the Seahawks."

Burleson signed an offer sheet last week for a seven-year contract worth up to $49 million, including $5.25 million guaranteed. In response to a similar tactic Minnesota used to sign All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet earlier this month, Seattle put a pair of provisions in the deal that would make it impractical for the Vikings to match.

If Burleson plays at least five games in the state of Minnesota or if his annual salary average is more than the average of his team's highest-paid running back, then the entire $49 million would be guaranteed.

The Vikings signed Hutchinson to an offer sheet that the Seahawks didn't match, after an arbitrator ruled that their contract didn't violate the collective bargaining agreement. Hutchinson's seven-year, $49 million deal becomes guaranteed if he's not his team's highest-paid offensive lineman. He had previously been named Seattle's transition player.
These poison pills caused some consternation at the league meetings this week, and outgoing commissioner Paul Tagliabue said such loopholes were "not in the spirit" of the NFL's agreement with the players' union.

But Burleson, who caught 30 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown last season while bothered by multiple injuries, is moving on.

Minnesota is left with Koren Robinson, Troy Williamson, Marcus Robinson and Travis Taylor at receiver, after nobody emerged as a top target in 2005 following the trade of Randy Moss to Oakland. Burleson was expected to be that, after accumulating 1,006 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in 2004.

The Seahawks owe the Vikings a third-round pick, based on Burleson's draft position in 2003. Minnesota now has two third-rounders and two second-rounders.

Moss' agent arrested again in Florida

2006-03-30T17:42:00.000-08:00

The agent for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss was arrested last weekend for failing to appear at a hearing stemming from his March 14 arrest on crack cocaine charges.

Dante DiTrapano was arrested March 25 in Clearwater, Fla., sheriff's department spokesman Mac McMullen said. DiTrapano posted bond and was released.

Robert Heyman, DiTrapano's attorney, and Tim DiPiero, a partner in DiTrapano's law firm in Charleston, didn't immediately return telephone messages.

DiTrapano, wife Teri and three others were arrested this month at a St. Petersburg, Fla., hotel. Police say they recovered 73 pieces of crack cocaine and 21 grams of powder cocaine. All five were charged with felony possession of crack cocaine.

Florida officials issued a warrant for DiTrapano after he failed to attend a March 21 court hearing in St. Petersburg.

DiTrapano has said he's enrolled in a treatment center for an addiction to the painkiller OxyContin.

Jets sign ex-Seahawks DB Dyson

2006-03-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

The New York Jets announced Thursday the signing of unrestricted free agent cornerback Andre Dyson. Terms of the contract were undisclosed. The announcement was made by Jets’ General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

"Andre is a good, young player who has extensive playing experience at the highest levels in the NFL," said Tannenbaum. "One of our priorities heading into the off-season was to acquire a cornerback that had valuable playing experience. In addition, he has played in two championship games and a Super Bowl and that experience will be an asset to the Jets."

Dyson, 26, joins the Jets following one season with the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks and a start in Super Bowl XL against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 5-10, 183-pound native of Clearfield, Utah began his professional career as a second-round selection of the Tennessee Titans in 2001 (60th player selected overall) out of the University of Utah. He played for the Titans for the first four seasons (2001-2004) of his career before moving on last season via unrestricted free agency.

Through his first five professional seasons, Dyson has 17 interceptions, 69 pass breakups and five touchdowns in 72 regular-season games, 64 of them starts. In Seattle's 42-0 Monday night rout at Philadelphia last season, Dyson scored after an interception and a fumble recovery, becoming the first NFL player since 1999 to score on two defensive returns in the same game. He has accumulated 243 career tackles, as well as four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
In 2005 with Seattle, Dyson appeared in 10 regular season games, missing six with various injuries. Going into 2005, he had missed only two games. He was back in the starting lineup for all three postseason games, including the Super Bowl.

In 2004 with Tennessee, Dyson set a career-high with six interceptions and led the team with 15 passes defensed to go along with 40 tackles (34 solo). He also set career-highs in tackles (64) and passes defensed (16) in the 2003 season. Of his 17 career interceptions, four have been returned for touchdowns.

A three-year starter at Utah, Dyson played in 43 games with 29 starts. He returned four of his 12 career interceptions for touchdowns, which is a school record. He majored in sociology at Utah. Dyson, whose older brother, Kevin, is a wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens, was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing only 1 lb., 9 oz. at birth, garnering the nickname “Miracle Baby.”
Preseason Opponents Announced

Raiders/Eagles to kick off NFL preseason

2006-03-29T16:04:00.000-08:00

The Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles will open the NFL preseason schedule on Sunday, August 6 in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

The game will also mark the return of NBC as a broadcast partner of the NFL. NBC will televise the premier Sunday night package for the upcoming season.

The Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers will be featured in one nationally televised preseason game on Friday, August 25 at Philadelphia.

The preseason will feature four full weeks of play, ending the weekend of August 31-September 2.

The NFL's regular season is slated to kick off on Thursday, September 7 when the defending champion Steelers host the Miami Dolphins.

Packers notes: A hole in the middle

2006-03-29T16:00:00.000-08:00

While the Green Bay Packers try to figure out who will replace departed Mike Flanagan as their starting center, the Houston Texans couldn't be happier about having stolen Flanagan away to fill that role for them.

The Texans signed Flanagan, the Packers' starter the past five seasons, to a three-year, $8.9 million free agent deal ($3 million signing bonus) Thursday night. And while they think the 32-year-old can still play, they like even more the leadership he'll provide on a line that has allowed quarterback David Carr to be sacked an NFL-high 208 times over the past four seasons, including 68 times last year.

"His presence, if he sat here at this table, (you'd see) he's a leader," new Texans coach Gary Kubiak said during Tuesday morning's annual media breakfast with the AFC coaches. "And we felt our guys up front needed a leader to come in at the center position."

As one would expect, Kubiak said the recommendation ex-Packers coach Mike Sherman, who is the Texans' assistant head coach/offense and will be working with offensive line coach John Benton, played a major role in the team's decision to sign him.

"It's easy for us to see (Flanagan) as a player, but Mike knew him as a person. So really Mike was, I want to say the closer in the deal," said Kubiak, adding that Flanagan's addition will allow him to move Steve McKinney to left guard. "He was the one with the relationship that gave us the best opportunity to get the kid. No doubt about that."

The Packers, meanwhile, appear content to allow youngsters Scott Wells and Chris White to battle it out for the right to replace Flanagan. Flanagan's primary backup, Grey Ruegamer, is not in the Packers' plans, and coach Mike McCarthy said he wants to keep second-year lineman Junius Coston at guard "right now."

"We think those guys (Wells and White) can play," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. "We'll see how it works out. We've got some young guys, but that's what you have to do in the NFL. You have to move on sometimes."

Thompson said the Packers tried to re-sign Flanagan, but "Houston stepped up to the plate pretty good (financially) and he decided to do that. You can't get too worked up about it."
Sounding board

Kubiak said his decision to hire Sherman, whom he worked with at Texas A&M in the 1990s, has been "awesome" because Sherman is helping him through the adjustment of being a first-time NFL head coach. Sherman spent six years as the Packers head coach and four as the team's general manager.

While Sherman's primary responsibility with the Texans is the offensive line, "he helps me in just about everything I do, to be honest with you," Kubiak said. "There's probably not a day that goes by that I'm not in there asking him about various situations going on and asking his opinion.
"It's nice to have somebody who's been there, where you can do down the hallway and say, 'I'm fixing to do this, what do you think?' You have so much respect for his opinion because he's had to make those decisions on a daily basis."
A lot to like

Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron said ex-Packers backup quarterback Craig Nall will be given every chance to win the team's starting job in a three-way competition with J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb.

"We wanted a three-man push there, thinking that the three of them would bring the level of play up of all of them a little bit higher and then one of them will surface (as the starter)," Jauron said. "At some point, we'll have to start changing the reps, because somebody hopefully will take the job. It'll be interesting."

Asked what he likes about Nall, who received a $1.3 million signing bonus despite having thrown just 33 regular season passes in his four-year NFL career, Jauron said, "He didn't get a lot of playing time, as we all know. But he's not a guy that we have to train to play in the league. And, we liked his demeanor when we interviewed him. He's a confident guy; he believes that he can start. He just wanted to come some place where he'd have the chance to just compete for the starting job."

Schedule on horizon

The Packers will open the preseason at San Diego and play a nationally televised game at home in Week 3 of the exhibition schedule, Packers president Bob Harlan said. The full preseason schedule will be released by the league today.

The league has told owners that the regular season schedule will be released April 6, Harlan said.
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NFL Features : Trade values have extenuating circumstances

2006-03-29T15:51:00.000-08:00

In recent years, trades in the NFL appear to be on the rise. Contract pressures, losses in free agency, health and lack of quality depth in the draft leave teams no choice but to acquire talent through a trade.

We witnessed Daunte Culpepper go from the Vikings to the Dolphins for a mere second-round pick. If he was healthy, the Vikings probably could have received two first-round picks for a young quarterback that threw for over 4,700 yards just two years ago. Next we watched a three-team deal that sent defensive end John Abraham to the Falcons in exchange for a late first-round selection. Patrick Ramsey only had sixth-round value as he left Washington for the Jets, and safety Chris Crocker is now a Falcon. This all leads me to players that are supposedly on the trading block right now.

Quarterback Joey Harrington, center Jeff Faine, receiver Eric Moulds and possibly receiver Javon Walker are being discussed around the NFL personnel offices right now. It is important to keep in mind that the players with big contracts and large roster bonuses coming due this spring control more of the "trade" process than players with lower salaries. For example, in the cases of Harrington and Moulds, the players will have to agree to restructured deals before a trading club will pull the trigger on a deal. If either player doesn't want to go to the teams interested in them, they simply don't renegotiate their contracts and the trade most likely goes away. The better the renegotiation talks go with the high-priced players, the more the value of the trade goes up for the trading team.

While I was at the owners meetings, I asked two GMs what Moulds was worth if he agreed to a deal like the one Keyshawn Johnson took in Carolina. The opinion was that if Moulds was willing to take that deal then he would be worth a third-round pick. If he required money in line with Terrell Owens and a club was willing to pay it, then the compensation might only be a fourth-round pick.

As for Harrington, there already appears to be a number of teams "interested" in his services. The real level of interest can't be determined until Harrington declares what he wants in compensation. Here's a guy with 60 touchdown passes since he was drafted in 2002, and most personnel directors around the league had a high first-round grade on him coming out of college. With that said, it will be hard to think of a team giving up more than a fourth- or fifth-round draft pick for him now. If I were the Lions, I might be more interested in a 2007 pick based on 2006 performance. If he starts a few games or throws a certain number of touchdowns, then the value goes up.

The guy who might warrant the most compensation right now is Faine. There is only one center with a first-round grade in the draft, and that is Nick Mangold from Ohio State. Faine has a modest salary at just over $500,000 and has two years left on his original deal. He has some medical history, but he also has 27 starts in the last two seasons. Faine could easily justify a third-round pick for his services. Is he a better player than Harrington or Moulds? Probably not, but he has the criteria for a better trade value.

It's not even substantiated that the Packers are interested in trading Walker. Remember the golden rule of moving talent off your roster. You must replace talent for talent or you hurt your club. The reason teams would be interested in Walker -- even though he missed 15 games last year and wants a lot of money right now -- is the lack of talent left on the open market and a weak draft class. When GMs look at 2004 when Walker caught 89 balls for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, they see a No. 1 receiver. When the same GMs look at the free-agent pool and the draft for this year, they only see No. 2 and No. 3 receivers. As one head coach said to me this week in Orlando, "If I'm going to have to draft Santonio Holmes or Chad Jackson and pay them first-round money, I might want to look at Walker if he became available." All things considered, if Walker's financial demands were realistic and Green Bay decided to part ways with him (which I wouldn't recommend), then he could bring a first-day draft pick. But that would put the Packers in the same boat teams interested in Walker are now, and it surely couldn't be music to Brett Favre's ears as he ponders retirement or a return.

Finally, it is good for the fans and the media to have some trade speculation floating around at the owners meetings, and as Matt Millen said to me on Tuesday, "It's a lot easier to get a trade done when you are looking right into the eyes of the guy asking about a trade then it is over the phone."

NFL is still eyeing L.A.

2006-03-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

Before he retires as commissioner, Paul Tagliabue would like to see the NFL get closer to placing a team back in Los Angeles.

While Tagliabue plans to be gone from the league in July -- if the owners can get together and find a successor by then -- a solution to the situation doesn't figure to come that soon.
Two sites are being considered, in Anaheim and at the current location of the Coliseum, each with cost estimates at $800 million, considerably higher than previous price tags. Tagliabue is eager to see a franchise return to Los Angeles, which was abandoned by the Raiders and the Rams after the 1994 season -- then failed to come up with public financing for an expansion team, which went to Houston beginning in 2002.

The subject is being discussed this week at the NFL meetings in Orlando, Fla., although it will be at the spring meetings in May that any concrete plans are developed.

"My guess is that we will be going forward with those presentations on behalf of the Coliseum and Anaheim so that we can make some decisions in Denver, to select one of the stadium projects and to go forward with the process of identifying a team and building a stadium," Tagliabue said.

Tagliabue has told the 32 team owners that unless a plan for Los Angeles is formulated soon, getting a team back into the nation's second-largest market won't occur by the end of the decade. For now, a six-man committee is handling the issue.

Meanwhile, the competition committee presented its proposals to the ownership Tuesday and votes will be taken today on the issues. They include:

• Cracking down on end-zone celebrations. Players won't be allowed to do anything while on the ground and also can't use props such as end-zone pylons. They can spike, dunk or spin the ball as long as they are standing in the end zone, and it is not a group thing.
• Allowing video reviews of down-by-contact plays; this proposal was defeated in an owners vote a year ago. Currently, a play is dead once the whistle blows and the ballcarrier is ruled down by the officials.
• Toughening enforcement on pass rushers who hit quarterbacks below the knees.
Harrington seeks job

Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington, who is helping his team try to find him a new job, is scheduled to meet in South Florida today with Dolphins coach Nick Saban, a source said.

Saban said at the NFL owners' meetings that he hoped to sign a backup quarterback as soon as possible. A few hours later, he left for home.

Harrington, the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2002 but a bust with the Lions, remains under contract to Detroit, which would like to trade him instead of releasing him. A trade seems likely because several teams -- Miami, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Baltimore -- appear to be intrigued.

"I have talked to quite a few teams that have shown interest in me, and I am narrowing my list of teams to a few and then probably will visit them in the next week," Harrington said on his family foundation Web site.
Around the league

• 49ers: Tight end Terry Jones re-signed with San Francisco, who claimed him off waivers from Baltimore last season. Jones caught nine passes for 76 yards for the 49ers last season after being dropped by the Ravens, who drafted him in 2002.

• Panthers: Carolina re-signed punter Jason Baker and brought back cornerback Reggie Howard, who started on their 2003 Super Bowl team. Baker, who set a team record last season with a 38.9-yard punting average, agreed to a two-year deal. Howard, meanwhile, received a one-year contract.

KING 5 to broadcast Seahawks pre-season games, new weekly football show

2006-03-24T17:06:00.000-08:00

SEATTLE - Seahawks fans can now get more of a good thing next football season.

The Seattle Seahawks and KING 5 announced Wednesday that all Seahawks pre-season games will now be broadcast on KING 5. The station will also air a new weekly game review and coach’s show following NBC’s Sunday night NFL games.

The NFL regular season kicks off September 7 with a Thursday night primetime game.

The weekly program will be taped in a new KING 5 studio perched atop the south end of Qwest Field.

The program will rebroadcast Sunday evenings both on Northwest Cable News and KONG 6/16. Pre-season games will also be re-broadcast on KONG 6/16.

“This partner ship ensures Seahawks fans from throughout the region can enjoy the team featured on the number-one rated television station in Western Washington,” said Tod Leiweke, Seattle Seahawks CEO.

Seahawks sign Tafoya, Keyshawn signs with Carolina

2006-03-24T16:58:00.000-08:00

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed defensive end Joe Tafoya on Thursday.
He will earn $585,000 in base salary in 2006.

The five-year veteran, acquired off waivers from Tampa Bay last March, played in 15 regular-season games and all three of the team's postseason games as a backup end and special teams player. He finished fourth on the NFC champions with 15 tackles on special teams, including one fumble recovery.

Tafoya will continue to back up starters Bryce Fisher and Grant Wistrom.
Johnson signs with Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have reached agreement on a four-year, $19 million deal with wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. He's expected to sign the contract Friday.

Johnson was released last week by the Dallas Cowboys and turned down an offer from the New York Giants. He had planned to visit Seattle after meeting with the Panthers, but stayed all of yesterday in Charlotte meeting with Panthers officials.
The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus.

Pirates stomped by Seahawks

2006-03-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

East Carolina won't be heading to Rice exactly on a high note.

UNC-Wilmington (17-6) snapped the Pirates (16-7) four-game winning streak with a 14-6 victory in front of 2,822 fans Wednesday evening at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Seahawks, which avoided a season sweep by the Pirates, banged out 21 hits against eight ECU pitchers. Every starter for Wilmington had at least one hit.

The Pirates hurt their own chances with five costly errors.

ECU, which opens Conference USA play this weekend at No. 4 Rice, was held to two runs on five hits by Wilmington starter Jeff Hatcher (2-1). The sophomore, who made his second start of the season, fanned six and walked two in a career-high seven innings of work.

The Pirates were down 11-0 before scratching across four runs in the eighth. After Wilmington went up 14-4, the Pirates managed two more runs in the ninth.

“It was a rough night,” ECU coach Billy Godwin said. “I’ve been in the game long enough to know that you have nights like this. Fortunately, I haven’t been on this side of them too many times.

“We’re going to be fine. I was real proud of the players at the end. It was just a little too late.”
The Seahawks knocked starter Scott Andrews (1-1) out in the second inning. The senior southpaw, making his first start of the year, allowed three runs on six hits in just 1 2/3 innings of work.

Wilmington jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Jason Appel reached on an infield hit and eventually scored on an RBI-single by John Raynor.

The Seahawks tacked on two more runs off four hits in the second. Daniel Hargrave doubled into left to get things started. Hargrave scored on a throwing error by shortstop Dale Mollenhauer, the first of two in the inning by the sophomore. Kenny Smith, who reached on an error, later scored when Appel reached on a fielder's choice to make it 3-0.

The damage could have been worse, but left fielder Stephen Batts threw out Appel at the plate on a hit by John Raynor to end the inning.

ECU reliever Josh Dowdy did a solid job keeping it a 3-0 game until he had to leave because of an injury. The freshman, who gave up three hits and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings, came up lame after fielding a bunt by Chris Hatcher in the fourth.

Jason Neitz followed with 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball. The junior gave up one hit and struck out two.

Wilmington increased its lead to 5-0 off two relievers in the sixth. Hargrave hit a leadoff double against sophomore Chris Powell. Senior Carter Harrell came on and allowed an RBI-double to Chris Hatcher and an RBI-single to Appel.

ECU used a couple strong defensive plays to keep it 5-0, as catcher Jake Smith tagged out Appel on a double-steal attempt and Batts made a diving catch to rob Raynor of a hit.

Steve Halford's RBI-single in the seventh extended Wilmington's lead to 6-0 and ended the night for Harrell (three runs on three hits in 2/3 of an inning). Hargrave greeted ECU's sixth pitcher, senior Kevin Rhodes, with an RBI-double to make it 7-0. It was Hargrave's third double of the game, which tied a school record.

A passed ball, error, RBI-double by Halford and RBI-single by Hargrave off reliever Cody Leggett, ECU's seventh pitcher, produced four more runs in the eighth for an 11-0 advantage.
The Pirates avoided the shutout in the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Tousley and Chris Buss had pinch-hit RBI-singles and Harrison Eldridge smacked a two-run double to make it 11-4.
A two-run double by Raynor and an error allowed Wilmington to tack on three more runs in the ninth.

Tousley had an RBI single and Buss brought in another run on a ground out to close out the scoring.

Hargrave and Raynor banged out four hits apiece for Wilmington, while Chris Hatcher and Appel had three each.

Jay Mattox had three hits for the Pirates.

The Pirates begin C-USA play Friday against the Rice Owls, with the first pitch at Reckling Park scheduled for 8 p.m. The teams will play Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
T.J. Hose, Dustin Sasser and Brody Taylor will start for the Pirates on those respective days.

Seahawks find a new starter for offensive line

2006-03-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

The Seahawks might have found their replacement for the departed Steve Hutchinson, and he's a guy with Super Bowl credentials.

If nothing else, Tom Ashworth figures to be a starter on Seattle's offensive line.
Ashworth, formerly with the New England Patriots, agreed Thursday to sign a five-year, $13 million contract.

Ashworth, 28, has been a right tackle for most of his four-year NFL career, blocking for quarterback Tom Brady in back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 2003 and 2004. He made a free-agent visit to Seahawks headquarters earlier this week, and his agent said he came away excited, especially about his meeting with offensive-line coach Bill Laveroni.

The Seahawks' philosophy of employing athletic offensive linemen who are often put on the move fits well with Ashworth, who was a tight end briefly at Colorado. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Ashworth could slide to left guard, where Hutchinson played the past five seasons before signing with the Minnesota Vikings. That would allow Seattle to keep Sean Locklear at right tackle, where he started every game last season.

Locklear also could move inside to keep Ashworth at his typical spot.

Ashworth was expected to sign his contract today. He'll receive $4.5 million this year.

One more hurdle for Hamlin

Free safety Ken Hamlin has been cleared to play football by his physician. Hamlin suffered severe injuries in a fight outside a downtown Seattle nightclub last October. But the Seahawks aren't saying yet whether Hamlin will play.

Lawrence Temple, Hamlin's agent, said his client has been cleared to play by his personal physician, but Temple said he did not know whether the Seahawks' doctors have given Hamlin the go-ahead to resume playing.

Without that clearance, Hamlin still is officially out of action. Hamlin was under the supervision of Dr. Stan Herring, one of the Seahawks' doctors, after his injuries.

Team medical staff had not made a decision on Hamlin as of the NFL scouting combine last month. The team did not comment Thursday on Hamlin's state of readiness.

The football staff is apparently not completely convinced, either, as the Seahawks had free agent Lance Schulters in for a visit that concluded Thursday. The Seahawks are already down a safety after losing Marquand Manuel to the Green Bay Packers earlier this month.
Hamlin has been working out since before the season ended.
Notes

• Tight end Chris Baker, a former New York Jet, concluded his visit with the Seahawks on Thursday. The team is seeking a replacement for Ryan Hannam, who signed with the Cowboys last week. Baker, 6-3 and 258 pounds, started eight games last season and caught 18 passes for 269 yards. Baker, 26, has four years of NFL experience.

• Seattle also met with TE Will Heller on Wednesday. Heller (6-6, 265) spent his first three pro seasons in Tampa Bay, where he was a backup.

• The Seahawks announced that DE Joe Tafoya has signed his contract to return to the team for the 2006 season.
José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

Top picks not always worthy of savior status

2006-03-22T11:06:00.000-08:00

here is no doubt that the fast-approaching NFL draft brings a buzz to the media and the fans that is second only to playoff games.

For some reason, the top 32 players selected from the college ranks make a lot of money and the dreams and hopes of the franchise rest squarely on the shoulders of these young men.
Who gets Reggie Bush? Is Matt Leinart the next great quarterback? How far up does a team have to go to get Jay Cutler? Who can resist the athleticism of Vince Young? Is D'Brickashaw Ferguson the next Willie Roaf? Has anyone looked better coming out of college as a defensive end than Mario Williams? You get the picture!

Well, before we get too caught up in the hype, I thought it would be a good idea to go back and look at last year's top pick for each club. (I included the second-round selection of teams that didn't have a first-round pick, and four teams had two first-round selections.) The top 36 players, if you will, and how much bang for the buck the teams got for their picks.

In the past two years, this "elite" group of program-savers averaged about a $3 million signing bonus and a salary of about $500,000. In plain English, NFL teams will spend about $100 million in bonus money and another $20 million in salary on the top 36 players drafted this year, just like they did last year. In fact, with the new CBA, teams might spend even more money.

Forgetting production, which takes time to develop, here's a look at the amount of time the top players were on the field learning how to play the pro game. A few years from now, a number of this year's top draft picks will claim they are underpaid but they will conveniently forget how much money they made back in their rookie year and what the club got in return for the cash.
The average top pick from the 2005 draft started seven games last season. There were only three 16-game starters: New England's Logan Mankins, Kansas City's Derrick Johnson and Dallas' DeMarcus Ware. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay), Chris Spencer (Seattle) and Jason Campbell (Washington) didn't start a game.

When it came to the number of plays in a game, 20 of the 36 played more than 50 percent of the plays in each game and the average percentage of plays for these top 2005 draft picks was 49 percent. Got the picture? An average signing bonus of $3 million, an average salary of $500,000 and less than half the plays: overpaid or underpaid?

Since they averaged less than half the snaps on offense and defense, you would think they must have been on most of the special teams. Seven of these high-priced players did not play one snap of special teams. The average number of special-teams plays per player for the 16-game schedule was 62 plays, or slightly under four plays per game.

Thomas Davis of the Panthers contributed the most with 257 special-teams plays. The next closest rookie was Steelers tight end Heath Miller with 162 plays. The average NFL team has close to 500 special-teams per season. NFL special-teams coaches can look forward to the top rookies contributing on about 12 percent of the special-teams plays, but they also know some of their better veteran special-teams players get released or not re-signed to accommodate the big rookie salaries.

So, who got their money's worth in sweat last year from their top pick? Keyshawn Johnson made a point to me the other day when I asked him the question, "Now that you are free to talk to any team, who would want you?" The first thing he said was a team that wants a guy who plays over 1,000 plays a season every year. That point stuck with me all week.

Cedric Benson made just one start for Chicago despite being picked fourth overall. The top 36 players in the draft last year produced only one player with 1,000-plus plays -- Logan Mankins. There were some other rookies that combined their special-teams plays with their regular offense or defense plays to give their team its money's worth: Derrick Johnson (1,113 plays), Mankins (1,114), Pacman Jones (954), Heath Miller (945), Jammal Brown (893) and Fabian Washington (890).

I understand and agree with the fact that quarterbacks take time to develop, and sitting the first season is part of the process. I also understand that injuries play a big part in playing time.
But something just doesn't sit right with me when the money doesn't equal the work. If the average top pick averages seven starts, less than 50 percent of the snaps, and 12 percent of the special-teams plays, then maybe there should be an adjustment in how much these players in training make.

A very successful Wall Street broker told me that at his firm, the young brokers don't really have a change in base pay for three years, but the bonuses go up as the brokers become more competent. That sounds like a good formula to me.

Prospects measuring up for success

2006-03-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

If you are the kind of NFL fan who really wants to dig down into all the numbers being broadcast to us about the draft class -- the measurables if you will -- then you may find my take on some of these numbers interesting. Teams are still gathering 'measurable' numbers at Pro Day workouts, so this study is incomplete. But I thought it would be a good time to explain how I look at some of the test scores, and more importantly, how I combine certain test scores to get a better feel for an athlete.

Stop and think about what happens in a football game every single play right after the ball is snapped. The players in the box on both sides of the ball try and explode into the opposing player, attempt to dominate the opponent physically and in the case of the defensive players, get off blocks and get to the ball. The offensive players want to sustain a block, make the defender miss if they are the ball carrier or simply dictate where they want to go.

From the initial snap of the ball, all the way through the five seconds of violence, the elements of strength, power, explosion, agility and body control are the key elements for success. The strongest man in the world isn't worth a damn if he can't step over a pile of bodies down by his feet, the quickest guy on the field can't even get to use his best tools if he is physically dominated by the opponent in front of him. The ability to jump and launch his body become critical factors in blocking passes, making a tackle from an awkward position, or going up in the air to make a catch or defend a pass.

The 40-yard dash seems to steal the show as the marquee measurable and it is the most advertised score to interpret. It has its place in the final grade for an NFL prospect, but I prefer to look at a combination of three measurables to get a sense of a prospect's ability to win in the 'combat' of football. I take the vertical-jump score and add it to the standing broad-jump score, which is added to the number of repetitions on the bench-press test. These three scores are combined to give me a benchmark score, which gives me a good feel for a player's ability to win the mini battle he will engage in while trying to finish a play.

I have been adding these three scores for a long time now and I am always looking for athletes who can score a 70 or better. Some positions naturally score higher than others and they need to by the nature of what is required for these positions on the field. Defensive ends and linebackers will generally score higher than wide receivers or cornerbacks. And since these positions are played in space where collisions are not as frequent, it is not as important to score a 70, but nonetheless, I am intrigued by perimeter players who score well on this combination score.

This year, we have a number of players who crossed the 70 mark and we have the rare few that have crossed the 80 mark. Believe me, not many NFL draft-eligible players ever get an 80-plus score. Here's a look at the top guys in this year's draft that have the combination of strength, power, explosiveness and agility to excel. Mario Williams, the top defensive end in the draft class, is off the charts when it comes to this combo score and has one of the highest scores I have ever seen.

There were a few other athletes who broke the 70 barrier like UTEP's Thomas Howard, Colorado's Joe Klopfenstein, Virginia's Kai Parham, and Alabama's Mark Anderson. But their football grades were not as high as the top 15 listed above. I would say that as a team gets into the third round and lower, it may be a good idea to take a look at players with a grade as close to 70 as possible to take a chance on a guy with the tools to work with over the next few years.
How impressive is it that a safety (Michael Huff) and a running back (DeAngelo Williams) and a cornerback (Antonio Cromartie) scored as well as they did among the defensive linemen and linebackers. As for the other positions, here's a look at some of the top scorers that at least get a third-round grade.

At no time do I believe any measurable or a combination of measurables replace what I can watch on tape when the athlete performs in a football game. But when it comes to putting the puzzle together and separating packs of players with similar production and grades, I do like to take a look at this combo score.

Seattle loses hearing, lets Hutchinson go

2006-03-21T05:07:00.000-08:00

The Seahawks were told they needed to match the guarantee provision in the seven-year Minnesota offer to their All-Pro guard if they wanted to keep him.

A team official for the NFC champions confirmed they let the league's midnight ET deadline pass without doing anything, making one of the keys to their Super Bowl season now the highest-paid Vikings lineman.

In fact, Hutchinson's agent, Tom Condon, said the Seahawks never contacted him about possibly matching the offer after Hutchinson signed the unprecedented offer sheet March 12.
When asked if Hutchinson wanted to leave the team that drafted him 17th overall out of Michigan in 2001, Condon said: "Not at all. I think that there wasn't any reason for him to leave Seattle.

"Nevertheless, Minnesota really stepped out for him."

The Vikings' seven-year contract became binding at 12:01 a.m. ET on March 21. It is the richest deal ever given to a guard.

A league spokesman and an attorney for the NFL players' union confirmed that a special master ruled against Seattle, saying a provision guaranteeing all of the money in the offer sheet Hutchinson signed with Minnesota should he not be the team's highest-paid offensive lineman is valid.

"The Seahawks lost," NFL Players Association general counsel Richard Berthelsen said.
The two teams had declined comment on the ruling.

Berthelsen attended the two-hour hearing in Philadelphia before special master Stephen Burbank, who ruled on the matter.

The Seahawks had argued that because they recently re-negotiated Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones' seven-year contract by adding an eighth, voidable year, Jones' team-best lineman deal now has an annual value below that of Hutchinson's offer.

After the re-negotiation, Jones' annual base salary would dip to $6.81 million -- just below Hutchinson's $7 million annual average had Seattle matched Minnesota's offer. Thus, the Seahawks argued they should not have to guarantee the rest of Hutchinson's new deal.
Berthelsen said Burbank did not elaborate in his ruling.

But Berthelsen said the decision validated the NFLPA's stance that the conditions at the time Hutchinson signed the offer sheet with the Vikings are the conditions Seattle must match -- meaning Hutchinson wasn't the highest-paid Seahawks lineman then, so Seattle must guarantee all of the Vikings' deal to match it.

"They wanted to put in additional language to make it from any point from now until the end of the 2006 league year," Berthelsen said. "That is contrary to the intent of the wording that was in the contract.

"And the special master agreed."

The Seahawks now have $6.39 million more to spend on potential free agents -- money they had been obligated to tender to Hutchinson once they made him their transition player last month.

Seattle has offered a first-round draft pick for Jets defensive end John Abraham, who wants a long-term deal. The Jets are still mulling that offer for their franchise player.
Some of the money freed by Hutchinson leaving could be used to sign his replacement. Versatile veteran Floyd Womack, who started 22 games at tackle and guard in his first four Seattle seasons before he lost his right-tackle job, currently is in line to replace Hutchinson.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Dolphins corner a DB, bring in Giants' Allen

2006-03-21T04:58:00.000-08:00

Cornerback Will Allen signed a four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins after spending the last five seasons with the New York Giants.

The Dolphins also signed tight end Justin Peelle to a three-year deal.

Allen is expected to replace Sam Madison, a longtime Miami starter whom the Giants signed as a free agent this month. Allen started 71 of the 72 games he played with the Giants, who drafted him in the first round in 2001. He had eight interceptions with the Giants.

Peelle was San Diego's fourth-round draft choice in 2002. He has 40 catches for 270 yards and four touchdowns in his career.

Seahawks nab Peterson, lose Hutchinson

2006-03-21T04:51:00.000-08:00

One of the busiest teams of the offseason struck again when the Seattle Seahawks reached agreement with former San Francisco linebacker Julian Peterson on a blockbuster seven-year, $54 million deal.

The deal, which the Seahawks and agent Kevin Poston spent today finalizing, includes $18.5 million worth of guarantees, including $10 million this season.

The San Francisco 49ers designated Peterson their franchise player one year ago. Peterson spent six seasons with the team.
Even with Peterson's mega-contract, the Seahawks still had the wherewithal to match the $49 million offer sheet Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson signed with the Vikings, but the Seahawks chose not to match it.

But Seattle might not be done. Still in place is a contingent deal for defensive end John Abraham, whom the Seahawks have the exclusive negotiating rights for from the New York Jets in exchange for Seattle's first-round pick.

Already this offseason, the Seahawks have re-signed NFL MVP running back Shaun Alexander and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard.

But now, the Seahawks are bolstering their defensive line, landing Peterson tonight and former Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Russell Davis over the weekend.

Peterson now is expected to start ahead of D.D. Lewis, and the Seahawks also could use him as a pass-rushing end. But the NFC champion Seahawks have options for the 28-year-old Peterson, whom the Miami Dolphins also pursued until he reached agreement with Seattle.

With Peterson off the market, former Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington now will be the most coveted defensive player available. His decision should come soon.

NFL? Not yet

2006-03-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

Ohio George Mason senior center Jai Lewis has plans quite different than the rest of the players participating in the NCAA basketball tournament.

The Pittsburgh Steelers in- vited him to work out for them, which Lewis intends to do. There may be other NFL teams that want to take a first-hand look at the 6-7 275-pounder.
Lewis, who will lead the 11th-seeded Patriots (24-7) against third-seeded North Carolina (23-7) this afternoon in a second-round NCAA game, last played football as a tight end and defensive end at Aberdeen (Md.) High School. But his size and athleticism intrigues NFL scouts, who see some Antonio Gates in Lewis.

Gates, 6-4 and 260 pounds, is an All-Pro tight end for the San Diego Chargers. He played basketball, not football, at Kent State before signing with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. A Steelers scout watched Lewis play in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament earlier this month at the Richmond Coliseum and left impressed by Lewis' dimensions, coordination and mobility.

"I'd love to play football, and the NFL is always trying to find athletes," said Lewis, who likely will get an opportunity to play pro basketball overseas. He averages 14 points and eight rebounds for the Patriots, who eliminated sixth-seeded Michigan State 75-65 on Friday night in the first NCAA win for a Colonial Athletic Association team since 2002 (UNC Wilmington beat Southern California).

At Aberdeen, Lewis drew football recruiting interest from Virginia Tech, North Carolina State and East Carolina, he said yesterday. But insufficient standardized test scores for freshman eligibility influenced Lewis, who averaged 18.3 rebounds as a prep senior, to seek another path to a scholarship. He spent a postgraduate year playing basketball at Maine Central Institute before becoming a four-year regular at GMU.

Lewis, 23, against a physical Michigan State team scored 13 and had eight rebounds.
"Jai Lewis is huge, and if you double-down [on him], he's also a very good passer," UNC coach Roy Williams said.

Lewis averages two assists, is second among Patriots in steals (1.4 spg), and made 16 3-pointers this season. His athletic versatility, Lewis believes, comes from his uncommon sports background. In addition to football and basketball, Lewis played soccer as a youth and lacrosse through high school.

"Can you imagine a guy his size running down the field with the ball in lacrosse?" GMU coach Jim Larranaga said.

Or as a tight end, after making a catch?

2006 NFL Draft Blog Days 1-6

2006-03-19T16:36:00.000-08:00

Sunday, March 19th, 2006

Michigan defensive tackle Gabriel Watson is an intriguing player. He is a two gap DT that dominates from time to time. He was absolutely unblockable at the Senior Bowl. He gets off the ball well, fills space, and does a good job of sealing off the inside run. While some question his effort, I do not think that is nearly the problem after watching him closely for four years. In my opinion, he simply is not in the type of condition to maintain his stamina and he becomes a completely different player when he is tired. He is not a pass rusher, but he has enough athleticism to be decent in that role. The plain and simple fact is that if Gabe Watson becomes serious and gets in condition, he has Jamal Williams type potential. Based on his career at Michigan, I question whether he will display that type of conditioning.

Saturday, March 18th, 2006

Florida wide receiver Chad Jackson was underrated throughout the year. When I watched him, I saw a fluid WR with good hands that ran solid routes. Unlike most Florida WR’s of the past, he showed pretty good strength and the ability to fight off jams. Despite the fact that he looked like a great athlete, you did not see a big play player. Then the combine happened and he had a lights out workout. At 6-foot-1, 213-pounds, Jackson ran a mind boggling 4.32. Now, he has NFL teams salivating. He is a guy with possession receiver skills and great speed. He should be the number one WR in the draft and could go higher than anticipated.

Friday, March 17th, 2006

In my opinion, DeAngelo Williams is a very intriguing player in this draft. He is talented and has that “it factor” that most marketing people love. He is charismatic and will immediately become one of the most quotable players around. He is simply a highly intelligent, class kid. That said, there are other RB’s I like more than him. For as talented as he is, DeAngelo has been snake bitten with injuries and will need a lot of work on his pass protection. He is a very instinctive RB who runs with speed and power. He has great cutback skills with superb change of direction, body control, and balance. He runs low, can really hurt LB’s who misjudge his speed, and has decent hands.

Thursday, March 16th, 2006

Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler has become a media darling after choosing to work out at the combine and some people are actually comparing him to Brett Favre. Outside of being a reckless QB with some questionable decision making skills, I fail to see the comparison. While he lacks glaring weaknesses and I admire his toughness, he is more like Jake Plummer than Brett Favre. He is a good athlete with good size and a pretty quick, fundamentally sound release. He shows solid accuracy and timing. My biggest problem is that he tries to do too much and throws off his back foot way too often. Maybe that is a byproduct of playing with inferior talent, but the team that gets him will need to be patient. Good QB prospect, but a little overrated. I would rate him higher than Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith, but lower than Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Matt Leinart, and Philip Rivers.

Wednesday, March 15th, 2006

Anyone who watched NC State play defense saw two players creating a ton of havoc. I know Mario Williams gets all the publicity and it is well deserved, but NC State had another great pass rusher in Manny Lawson. They are different players. Lawson is a terrific athlete showing good instincts and taking great angles. In many ways, he will remind you of Jason Taylor coming out of Akron. He is not great against the run, but put him outside in a 3-4 WOLB and he might not be better suited to play against the run. With 10.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, Lawson was an extremely underrated player before the combine. After measuring in at 6-foot-5, 241-pounds with a 4.45 speed at the combine, he is no longer underrated.

Tuesday, March 14th, 2006

The first time I saw USC OT Winston Justice play was in High School. I was amazed at how much talent was in this big, 17-year old kid. In many ways, he will remind you of former Arizona State and current Cincinnati left tackle Levi Jones. At 6-foot-6, 320-pounds, he is an excellent overall athlete, solid competitor, and plays with good toughness. He is a strong run blocker for a LT with good initial quickness and the ability to get to the backside cut off block. The primary problem is that he is still a very raw pass protector who can get his feet tangled when going against a superior athlete. The promising component is that he takes pretty good angles in pass protection.

NFL, Seahawks challenge Hutchinson contract

2006-03-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

The Seahawks' hopes of keeping All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson could be decided by an arbitration process.

The NFL has filed a claim on behalf of the Seahawks contending a clause in the offer sheet Hutchinson signed with the Minnesota Vikings circumvents the league's collective-bargaining agreement.

The NFL and Seahawks believe the provision does not need to be included in the contract for the Seahawks to retain their three-time Pro Bowl guard and transition player.

The Vikings signed Hutchinson to a seven-year, $49 million offer sheet on Monday, and the Seahawks had a week to match or let Hutchinson become a Viking without receiving any compensation.

The deal, which contains $16 million in guarantees and would count $13 million against the $102 million salary cap, includes a clause that would guarantee the entire $49 million if Hutchinson is not his team's highest-paid offensive lineman at any time after the first year.

Hutchinson would be the highest-paid lineman for the Vikings. But his deal — the richest for a guard in NFL history — would be second among Seahawks linemen to All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones, who signed a seven-year, $52.5 million contract last year.

On Saturday, a special master will determine whether the CBA gives him jurisdiction in the case. If so, he will hold a hearing on Monday in Philadelphia.

If the special master declines, the case will fall to a non-injury grievance arbitrator.
Richard Berthelsen, general counsel for the NFLPA, said the union will argue against the Seahawks' claims.

The Seahawks had no comment Friday night, telling The Seattle Times it's a league matter.
Berthelsen said the union's interpretation is that the disputed clause is permitted by the CBA because it is a "principal term" of the contract. A "principal term" is defined as salary, bonuses and incentives, plus "any modifications of and additions to the terms ... requested by the free agent and acceptable to the new club, that relate to non-compensation terms (including guarantees, no-cut and no-trade provisions)."

The Seahawks and league are challenging the last part, likely arguing that guaranteeing Hutchinson's entire contract would not be a "non-compensation" term.

Panthers sign center Hartwig

2006-03-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

The Carolina Panthers have signed unrestricted free agent center Justin Hartwig from the Tennessee Titans, the team has announced. Hartwig, 27, has appeared in 50 career games with 47 starts in four NFL seasons, all with Tennessee.

In 2005, Hartwig (6-4, 312 pounds) started all 16 games for the second time in his career and aided a Titans offense that finished ninth in the League in passing. Drafted in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft, he played in three contests, primarily on special teams, as a rookie. Switched from guard to center at the beginning of training camp in 2003, Hartwig earned the starting job after never having played the position and proceeded to start all 16 games.

A native of Des Moines, IA, Hartwig was a three-year starter at tackle for Kansas, where he was an All-Big 12 second-team selection as a senior and honorable mention as a junior.

Eagles sign Garcia

2006-03-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

Seeking an upgrade at the backup quarterback position, the Philadelphia Eagles signed free-agent signal caller Jeff Garcia to a one-year deal on Thursday.

"Garcia is a guy who’s had a lot of success in the National Football League," said head coach Andy Reid. "He knows how to win football games and he’s been to the Pro Bowl multiple times. He’s a very smart player and is very familiar with our offensive system. He'll be a great back-up to Donovan (McNabb)."

The 36-year-old quarterback will provide Philadelphia with a quality backup to McNabb, something they were lacking last season.

After McNabb went down November 14th in a loss to Dallas, the Eagles' backup quarterbacks struggled to run the offense efficiently. Mike McMahon completed just 45 percent of his passes (94-of-207) for 1,158 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine appearances, which included seven starts. Koy Detmer managed to complete 57 percent of his passes, but threw no touchdowns and three picks.

Philadelphia will be Garcia's fourth team in as many years. In seven NFL seasons, Garcia has completed 61 percent of his passes for 19,076 yards with 126 touchdowns and 71 interceptions. He has appeared in 91 games (86 starts) while serving stints at San Francisco, Cleveland and Detroit. The San Jose State product has also proved to be a threat on the ground, running 370 times for 1,791 yards and 24 scores.

Last year with Detroit, Garcia started five of six games, completing 102 passes for 937 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions before going down for the season with an injury.

Pickett in, Jackson out as run stopper

2006-03-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

Usually averse to spending big money on other teams’ free agents in his 14 months as the Green Bay Packers' general manager, Ted Thompson made his biggest such move on Wednesday, landing defensive tackle Ryan Pickett.

The Packers, Buffalo Bills and St. Louis Rams all were trying to sign Pickett as the market for defensive tackles started to thin out.

The Packers looked like the longest shot of all after Pickett left Green Bay without a deal on Monday, then spent an extra day visiting Buffalo.

Pickett was interested in the Bills because his former defensive line coach in St. Louis, Bill Kollar, is with Buffalo. Pickett also told the Bills he has family in the Rochester, N.Y., area.
Pickett also had a good offer from the Rams, his former team, but Thompson made a strong enough pitch to lure him to the Packers.

Pickett didn’t sign the deal on Wednesday because he was traveling from Buffalo to his home in St. Louis.
Terms of the contract were unavailable. The Rams were offering a five-year, $16 million deal that included a signing bonus of $5.5 million, and it’s believed Buffalo’s offer was slightly better than that. The Packers almost certainly offered Pickett a deal in that range.

The addition of the 6-foot-2, 330-pound Pickett means Grady Jackson’s 2½-year tenure as the Packers’ run stopper in the middle of the defensive line is over.

Jackson’s agent, Angelo Wright, is shopping him to teams in need of a run stopper.
The Packers wanted Pickett, 26, to replace Jackson, 33, because he’s much younger, is more of an every-down player and isn’t as great an injury risk.

Pickett, the 29th overall pick in the 2001 draft, started for the Rams for the past four seasons and is coming off his best year. Last season, he led the Rams’ defensive linemen with 81 tackles. He also had 2 ½ sacks.

Until agreeing to the deal with Pickett, Thompson’s biggest signing of another team’s free agent came earlier this week, when he paid former Seattle safety Marquand Manuel a $2 million signing bonus as part of a five-year deal worth $10 million.

Thompson’s biggest signing of any kind came last week, when he retained defensive end Aaron Kampman just before the start of free agency. That move required a huge first-year payment of about $12 million in bonuses and base salary and likely is a more lucrative contract than Pickett’s.

Kampman received an $8 million signing bonus, a $3 million roster bonus, a base salary of $900,000 this year and a workout bonus of $105,720. It’s a four-year, $21 million deal, with base salaries of $1.9 million in 2007, $2.9 million in 2008 and $3.9 million in 2009, plus workout bonuses of $100,000 in each of those seasons.

Packers sign ex-Seahawk

2006-03-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

The Green Bay Packers signed former Seattle Seahawks safety Marquand Manuel, the team announced Monday.

Manuel, 26, started the Seahawks' final 13 games at free safety after regular starter Ken Hamlin was injured in Week 7.

Manuel tied for third on the Seahawks with 67 tackles (54 solo), two passes defensed and one fumble recovery.

The Seahawks claimed Manuel on waivers before the 2004 regular season. He played mostly on special teams and as an extra defensive back in his first year with Seattle.

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Manuel out of Florida in the sixth round of the 2002 draft, and he started nine games in two seasons before being waived.

Manuel signed a five-year, $10 million contract with the Packers, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He received a $2 million signing bonus and base salaries of $1 million in 2006, $1.3 million in 2007, $1.6 million in 2008, $1.9 million in 2009 and $2.2 million in 2010.
The Packers also claimed wide receiver Harry Williams on waivers from the New York Jets. Williams, a 6-2, 186-pounder, was drafted by the Jets in 2005 in the seventh round out of Tuskegee.

Ben Roethlisberger

2006-03-14T05:43:00.000-08:00

The Pittsburgh Steelers found a real gem when they drafted AFL quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Nicknamed “Big Ben,” this Ohio native led the Steelers to the Super Bowl during his second year in the league.

An interest in sports during his high school years perhaps led to Roethlisberger’s success. As captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams, this star in the making finally landed his spot as the quarterback of his high school football team during his senior year. It appears as if that practice paid off - literally. In 2004, when Ben Roethlisberger found his way into the NFL Draft, the Steelers signed him to a six year contract with an impressive signing bonus. During his rookie season, Roethlisberger succeeded with a 13-0 record for the best start by a rookie.
In October 2005, just one year after he was selected in the draft, Ben Roethlisberger became the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as named by the Associated Press. During his rookie season, passing records were something to be broken by this Findlay High School graduate. Among them, best passer rating and highest completion percentage.

It was obvious to all who saw him, including Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, that this young man was here to play. And play he did. As the 2005 regular season wrapped up, the Steelers had secured the AFC league’s wild card position in the Super Bowl XL. On February 5, 2006, the Steelers took hom the Super Bowl victory in a win against the Seattle Seahawks.

Roethlisberger is far from being your average quarterback. In fact, his stature leaves little doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with. Tied with few others as the tallest starting quarterback in the NFL, “Big Ben” knows how to use his height to read the competition. In addition, his arm seemingly has a knack for guiding the passes to their intended receiver. There is no doubt that height would be an advantage to any quarterback trying to spot an open receiver on the field.

Ben Roethlisberger is the second youngest quarterback to play in the NFL Super Bowl. While he has been compared to many legends of the game, Roethlisberger is out to make a name for himself. With only his second regular season behind him, and 4 years remaining on his contract with the Steelers, it looks as if Pittsburgh can expect “Big Ben” to be a powerhouse for the team in the years to come. What’s next for this NFL superstar in the making? Stay tuned and find out.

Bob writes for GoAllOut.com and FanFrenzyZone.com. Where you can purchase a Ben Roethlisberger Jersey, Steelers Apparel or Steelers Tickets.

NFL Draft 2006: What You Want To Know

2006-03-14T05:42:00.000-08:00

With the 2006 NFL Draft coming up at the end of next month (April 29 and 30), fans are asking, what they should expect and if there will be any big surprises this year. To answer these questions, let’s take a look at the players, teams, and negotiations that are highlighting this year’s event.

Reggie Bush is looking like the first-round favorite. Bush, who played running back for USC, is a great all-around athlete. He’s versatile too; equally skilled in running, receiving, and returning. Vince Young garnered national attention when his Wonderlic test score was originally reported as a 6; it turned out to be an unexceptional 16, so look for this talented quarterback from Texas to be tapped in the top five. Another quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart from Southern Cal, gave up being last year’s #1 draft choice to finish school. This savvy player will be snapped up early in the proceedings. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, an offensive tackle from Virginia, should go quickly as well due to the fact he’s little, but nimble, and extremely fast.

At 2-14, the Houston Texas will make this season’s first pick. Look for them to beef up their struggling offensive line. The New Orleans Saints, in the number two spot, is looking for a strong young quarterback to take over. Third pick goes to the Tennessee Titans, who are looking to rebuild after last year’s salary cap reorganization. Fifth-seated New York Jets could use a strong offensive tackle, but will likely choose a more dependable QB in the first round.

The biggest League news so far this year is that the owners and the Players Association still have had trouble reaching a labor contract agreement. The free-agency deadline has already been pushed back by three days to give all parties time to cool off. Fans are watching this dispute closely, hoping that the NFL doesn’t go the way of Major League Baseball.

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NFL Notes: Moulds wants Bills to release him

2006-03-14T05:39:00.000-08:00

Veteran star receiver Eric Moulds asked the Buffalo Bills to release or trade him yesterday, believing the team has no intention of keeping him at his current salary.

"The Bills have put us in a position where we're at Option Z and Option Z is to ask to be released," Moulds' personal adviser, Greg Johnson, told Associated Press. "It's a sad day. And we wish things could've worked out, but it's just not working out."

Moulds, a 10-year veteran and the Bills' senior player, has two years left on his contract. He's scheduled to make about $7.1 million (all figures U.S.) next season and count about $10.85 million against the salary cap.

Moulds twice has rejected the team's request to take what Johnson referred to as "a substantial pay cut." Johnson said the two sides are at a stalemate in finding other ways to reduce the player's salary cap hit.

LEWIS STAYS PUT: Running back Jamal Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens agreed on a three-year contract yesterday, less than 24 hours after the team added free agent Mike Anderson to improve a rushing attack that ranked 21st in the NFL last season.

Lewis's deal was in the vicinity of $25 million, according to the league's website.

The franchise career rushing leader with 6,669 yards, Lewis became a free agent in January.
Lewis had planned to fly to Denver yesterday afternoon to talk about joining the Broncos, but cancelled the flight after coming to terms with the Ravens.

He ran for a career-low 906 yards in 2005 after serving a four-month federal prison sentence on a drug charge and undergoing off-season ankle surgery.

SPENDING SPREE: The Tennessee Titans have money to spend in free agency and they haven't wasted time trying to improve a team that went 4-12 last season, agreeing to terms yesterday with linebacker David Thornton. The five-year deal is worth more than $22 million with an $8 million signing bonus.

Tennessee also met with wide receiver David Givens, another top free agent on the market. "We're not done," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "Veteran presence is important to us."
SIZE MATTERS: The Cleveland Browns signed 6-foot-5, 365-pound nose tackle Ted Washington to a two-year contract to bolster the team's run defence.

The 14-year veteran, who will turn 38 in April, recently was released by the Oakland Raiders for salary cap reasons.

FALCON STAYS HOME: Receiver Brian Finneran re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons, agreeing to a four-year, $8 million contract.

Finneran caught 60 passes for 611 yards last season.

SAFETY REASONS: Dexter Jackson, MVP of the 2003 Super Bowl, signed a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. The safety, an eight-year player, was with Tampa Bay from 1999-2002. He spent 2003 with Arizona, then returned to Tampa.

REDSKINS BUSY: Washington added safety Adam Archuleta and linebacker Andre Carter to its free-agent haul yesterday, giving the Redskins five new players in three days.

Archuleta, who played five years with the St. Louis Rams, signed a six-year, $30 million deal with a $10 million signing bonus.

Carter will fly to Washington today to sign his deal.

The two players join receivers Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El and tight end Christian Fauria as the newest additions to Joe Gibbs' team.

with files from star wire services

Free agency off to quick star

2006-03-12T06:17:00.000-08:00

Free agency has opened with a flurry. Already, numerous teams are on the board. Take a glance at the deals, and the potential soon-to-be deals.

This list will be constantly updated throughout the day, so refresh this page often!
Former Denver defensive end Trevor Pryce reached agreement with Baltimore on a five-year, $25 million deal.

Cleveland reached agreement with former Seattle wide receiver Joe Jurevicius on a four-year deal worth about $10 million.

Former Minnesota safety Corey Chavous reached agreement with St. Louis on a five-year deal.
Former Seattle safety Marquand Manuel reached an agreement with Green Bay on a five-year, $10 million deal that includes a $2 million signing bonus.

Denver has reached an agreement to re-sign defensive tackle Gerard Warren to a six-year contract.

Former New Orleans center LeCharles Bentley agreed to terms with Cleveland -- 6 years, $36 million, with a $12 million signing bonus. The deal makes him the highest-paid center in NFL history.

Former Washington tight end Robert Royal has reached an agreement with Buffalo on a five-year, $10 million deal that includes a $2.5 million signing bonus.

Washington and San Francisco are nearing a deal that would send a 2006 third-round pick and a 2007 fourth-round selection to the 49ers for wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. Pending a physical, the deal should be completed before the end of the weekend.

Former Baltimore defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu reached an agreement with Carolina -- 5 years, $23 million, with $8 million of it guaranteed.

Dallas agreed to terms with ex-Detroit guard Kyle Kosier on a five-year, $15 million deal that includes a $5 million signing bonus.

Arizona agreed to terms with ex-Giants defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy on a four-year, $8.1 million deal.

Carolina re-signed RB DeShaun Foster to a three-year deal worth about $14.5 million.

Tampa Bay re-signed FB Mike Alstott to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

Minnesota re-signed WR Koren Robinson to a three-year, $12.7 million deal that, with options, really is a one-year, $3 million deal.

Green Bay re-signed DE Aaron Kampman. SCHEDULED VISITS

Carolina LB Will Witherspoon is visiting St. Louis today and New Orleans on March 12 -- he's expected to have a new team in 24 hours.

Giants CB Will Allen is visiting the Seahawks today.

St. Louis defensive tackle Ryan Pickett is visiting Green Bay today.

Detroit cornerback R.W. McQuarters will visit the Giants on March 12.

Jacksonville linebacker Akin Ayodele is visiting Dallas today.

St. Louis safety Adam Archuleta will visit Washington today. He also is scheduled to visit Chicago on March 13.

Dallas linebacker linebacker Scott Fujita will visit New Orleans on March 12 and Jacksonville on March 13.

San Francisco defensive end Andre Carter will visit Washington today.

Former Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington just wrapped up his Miami visit today and is heading to the Giants for a March 12 meeting.

Former Buffalo safety Lawyer Milloy is visiting Cincinnati today.

Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson is visiting Cincinnati on March 12 and Minnesota on March 13.

San Diego quarterback Drew Brees is scheduled to visit New Orleans today, but first is meeting with Miami officials in Alabama.

Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James will visit Arizona today.

Pittsburgh wide receiver Antwaan Randle El will visit Washington today and Chicago on March 12.

Cincinnati quarterback Jon Kitna will visit the Jets.

Pittsburgh defensive tackle Kimo Von Oelhoffen will visit the Jets today.
Arizona quarterback Josh McCown will visit Detroit on March 12, then New Orleans, then Miami.

Green Bay center Mike Flanagan will visit Houston today.

Baltimore safety Will Demps will visit Cincinnati today and Minnesota on March 13.

New England wide receiver David Givens will visit Miami today and Houston on March 12.

San Diego linebacker Ben Leber will visit Minnesota today, and likely will sign there.
Miami quarterback Sage Rosenfels will visit Houston today.

Chiefs backup quarterback Todd Collins will Washington on March 12.

NFL: PANTHERS: Terrific 10: Offseason Moves

2006-03-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

Lists are starting points for discussion, and the following is no different. Here is a look at some of the top veteran offseason moves in team history as seen by Panthers.com.

10. Ken Lucas and Mike Wahle, 2005

In one 24-hour span, the Panthers shored up two positions by signing guard Mike Wahle and cornerback Ken Lucas. Wahle helped anchor the offensive line in Green Bay for seven years, and Lucas shared the NFC lead with Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble with six interceptions in 2004. Both players paid dividends in their first season as Panthers. Lucas made game-changing plays in the Panthers secondary, posting six interceptions in the regular season again, and one each in playoff victories at New York and Chicago. Wahle helped solidify the offensive line, helping the Panthers allow 28 sacks, the second fewest in team history and opening holes for a team-record 228 rushing yards in the regular season finale. Wahle was rewarded by his NFL peers by receiving his first career Pro Bowl invitation.

9. Mark Fields, 2002

Few remember that Mark Fields had played in the Super Bowl prior to the 2002 season as a member of the St. Louis Rams. But Fields, a former Pro Bowler in New Orleans, was released by the Rams. The Panthers signed him and he spent the entire 2002 season making them look like geniuses. Fields had his best season ever, posting 127 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a team record seven forced fumbles, and one interception. Unfortunately, during training camp the next summer he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease. He missed the entire 2003 season, but he and linebackers coach Sam Mills, who was diagnosed with cancer around the same time, served as an inspiration to his teammates with their Keep Pounding attitude. That mentality allowed him to come all the way back in 2004, when he earned his second Pro Bowl invitation.

8. Ricky Proehl, 2003

The Panthers already had Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith at wide receiver when they signed Proehl. They were seeking steady production, veteran leadership, and big play potential from their third receiver. It's safe to say that's exactly what they got. In his first game as a Panther, Proehl caught the game-winning touchdown versus Jacksonville with 16 seconds remaining. He hauled in three more touchdowns that season, then caught the game-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVIII with 1:08 remaining. Two seasons later, Proehl caught another four touchdown passes, including the game-winner at Detroit with 36 seconds remaining.

7. Kevin Greene 1996

When Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers was named the first head coach of the Carolina Panthers, he wanted to build an aggressive, attacking defense much like the one he had assembled in Pittsburgh. Enter Kevin Greene. Attack was Greene's middle name, and it paid off in terms of sacks and big plays. His first season in Carolina, he led the NFL with 14.5 sacks, forced five fumbles and recovered three, returning one of them 66 yards for a touchdown. Greene went on to post 15 sacks in 1998 and 12 in 1999 for a three-season total of 41.5, which stood as the franchise's high mark until Mike Rucker surpassed it in 2005.

6. Eric Davis 1996

Eric Davis was one of many veterans to sign with the Panthers in their first few seasons. After a successful start to his career in San Francisco, Davis brought his ballhawking skills to the Panthers and proceeded to do something that will be hard for anyone to match. In five seasons, Davis managed to finish with five interceptions every year. His 25 picks are nine more than the team's second best in that category. Davis scored two touchdowns on those interceptions, and his veteran presence in the secondary helped propel the Panthers into the NFC Championship game in his first season with the team.

5. Steve Beuerlein 1996

Signed as a backup to Kerry Collins in 1996, Steve Beuerlein never started a postseason game for the Carolina Panthers. But if you look at the team's record books, he did just about everything else. Beuerlein leads the Panthers with 1,723 passing attempts, 1,041 completions, 86 touchdowns, and an 87.7 career rating. In 1999, Beuerlein had one of the best seasons not only in Panthers history, but in League history as well. He became just the 11th passer to record more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in one season when he completed 343-of-571 passes for 4,436 yards and 36 touchdowns with 15 interceptions for a 94.6 passer rating. For good measure, he added a game-winning five-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game at Green Bay. Beuerlein's incredible statistics were just a part of the package, though. His leadership, through good times and bad, was what set him apart in the locker room.

4. Michael Bates, 1996

The expansion Carolina Panthers had Michael Bates on their roster in 1995 but traded him to Cleveland. When they signed him during the 1996 offseason, they held onto him, and for good reason. Bates was named to the Pro Bowl in five consecutive seasons (1996-2000), and holds three Pro Bowl return records to this day. He was a force on special teams, returning five kickoffs for touchdowns as a Panther. His first two seasons with the team he became the first player since the AFL-NFL merger to lead the League in kickoff returns in consecutive years. His last three Pro Bowl nods came as a coverage specialist, at which he also excelled. Bates blocked three punts as a Panther and forced two fumbles.

3. Stephen Davis, 2003

When general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox were re-assembling the Panthers after the 2002 season, one key piece of the puzzle was missing. To play football the way John Fox likes, you need a workhorse running back to keep the chains moving on offense and keep the defense rested on the sideline. Stephen Davis fit the mold perfectly. Davis rushed for more than 100 yards in his first four games with the team, remarkably increasing his total each time. He finished with 318 carries for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns, all team records until he eclipsed the touchdown mark with 12 in 2005. Davis was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week three times in 2003, and his 178-yard effort at New Orleans that year still stands as the team's single game rushing mark. Injuries robbed Davis of most of the 2004 campaign, and parts of 2005 despite his 12 touchdowns. He is second only to Tshimanga Biakabutuka with 2,085 rushing yards with the Panthers, and his 20 rushing touchdowns and seven 100-yard games are team records.

2. Wesley Walls, 1996

Walls was a seven-year veteran when the Panthers signed him in 1996. He had enjoyed moderate success in those seasons, posting 106 receptions and nine touchdowns with the 49ers and Saints. The Panthers were hoping he could provide a nice safety net for young quarterback Kerry Collins. He provided that and more. Much more. Walls played seven seasons with the Panthers, hauling 324 receptions and a team-record sharing 44 touchdowns. His 3,902 receiving yards as a Panther put him among the League's elite tight ends. He received Pro Bowl invitations in each of his first four seasons with the team. Walls caught at least one pass in a team record 70 consecutive games. His famous shotgun end zone celebration was the precursor to Steve Smith's smorgasbord of 2005. Walls' best season came in 1999, when he caught 63 passes for 822 yards and 12 touchdowns, all career highs.

1. Jake Delhomme, 2003

The Panthers pro scouts had conviction, but who really knew what the Panthers were getting when they signed away the Saints backup quarterback before the 2003 season? In five seasons on the bayou, Delhomme had three touchdown passes and five interceptions to his credit. But he burst onto the Carolina scene in a huge way. In his very first game as a Panther, trailing 17-0 to Jacksonville when he first took the field, Delhomme led the Panthers to three second half scores, including the game-winner to Ricky Proehl with 16 seconds remaining. It was a sign of things to come. Delhomme led the Panthers with a remarkable seven game-winning drives as they won the NFC South with an 11-5 record. But he was just getting warmed up. Delhomme led the Panthers to the brink of the Super Bowl XXXVIII title, tying the New England Patriots with 1:08 remaining but never getting the chance to win the game. Delhomme's 113.6 passer rating in that game solidified his reputation as a cool customer in the clutch. He only added to it with two more strong performances in the 2005 postseason. Delhomme is tied with Roger Staubach and Len Dawson for the most playoff victories ever by a starting quarterback. He was also recently recognized by ESPN as the third best free agent signing ever, ranking behind only Reggie White with the Packers and Deion Sanders with the 49ers. Not bad for a backup from the bayou.

Ex-NFL player following in Tillman's footsteps

2006-03-11T15:43:00.000-08:00

Pfc. Jeremy Staat, a former defensive lineman who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Rams, graduated from the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Friday.
Enlisting "is probably one of the best decisions I've made in my life," Staat, 29, told The Associated Press after the ceremony.

Tillman, who played defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals, was killed by friendly fire near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in April 2004. The Defense Department is investigating allegations of a cover-up, including the Army's failure to tell Tillman's family for several weeks that he had been killed by gunfire from his fellow Army Rangers, not by enemy fire as they initially were told.

Staat said he was felt compelled to join the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but Tillman, who was his roommate at Arizona State, advised him to stay with professional football until he qualified for retirement benefits.

"He told me, 'You're a good player, you need to get good play.' Then four months later, at his wedding, I learn he's going to the Army," Staat said. "I joked to him, 'You stole my idea,' and he said it had been in the process for a while."

Tillman's death gave him "more motivation" to enlist, Staat said. "I should have been there for him."

Tillman gave up a $1.2 million NFL contract to join the Army Rangers.

Staat played for the Steelers from 1998 to 2000, and played two games with the Rams in 2003. He was playing for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League before being put on the league's suspended list.

"I never felt right about making the money I was making," he said. "We pay millions of dollars to professional athletes and entertainers, yet we pay military service people pennies to a dollar, and they're the ones risking their lives."

To enlist, the 6-foot-5 player said he dropped from 310 to 260 pounds. He said three months of boot camp training gave him a deeper appreciation for team camaraderie.
"It's about looking out for your fellow soldier, and being ready to take a bullet for someone," he said.

Author to share Lombardi stories

2006-03-10T02:51:00.000-08:00

Sandy Sullivan, author of “Green Bay Love Stories and Other Affairs,” and Republican candidate for Secretary of State, will speak to the Brown County Visually Impaired Support Group at 1 p.m.

Thursday at the Aging Resource & Disability Center, 300 S. Adams St. The public is invited to attend.

Sullivan will recount her experiences while working for former Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

— Press-Gazette

Packers like new labor deal

2006-03-10T02:47:00.000-08:00

The Green Bay Packers will be one of the teams contributing to revenue sharing in the NFL under the new collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players.
Though revenue sharing ultimately will hurt the Packers’ bottom line, the team’s executives believe it was the best thing for the long-term future of the Green Bay franchise and its ability to remain competitive.

“That’s not so much an expense to us as it is an investment in the future of the league and stability to the Green Bay Packers,” John Jones, the Packers’ executive vice president and chief operating officer, said Wednesday night from Grapevine, Texas, where the deal was finalized.
“It was our view from the beginning that not only was revenue sharing the right thing to do, but we were prepared to support it financially. We’ll be among the contributing clubs in the league.”
Other revenue-sharing plans discussed would not have been as favorable to the Packers as the one put in place, Jones said.

The top 15 teams in terms of revenue, which includes the Packers, will help fund the rest of the league’s teams. Jones said he expects the Packers to stay among those 15 teams.
The deal also preserved the salary cap, which is expected to increase by as much as $10 million from the $94.5 million cap previously in place.

“We’re delighted with the new CBA and that a salary-cap system was preserved,” Packers President Bob Harlan said in a statement.

“Continuation of the salary cap was our No. 1 goal because without it, the long-term viability of the Packers would be in doubt.”

The new labor deal gives the Packers time to continue negotiations with defensive end Aaron Kampman, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at 11:01 p.m. Friday. Without a deal, free agency would have started at the same time Wednesday.

Andrew Brandt, the Packers’ vice president of player finance, was working into the night with Kampman’s representatives, but no deal appeared imminent.

The Packers have made re-signing Kampman their top priority but there remains a significant gap between the two sides.

The Packers are believed to have increased their offer, but it hasn’t been enough for Kampman, who is coming off the most productive season of his four-year NFL career. He had a career-high 6½ sacks last season and led the Packers’ defensive linemen with 105 tackles.
If Kampman becomes an unrestricted free agent, the Packers could get another crack at re-signing him. He could give Green Bay the opportunity to counter any offer he receives from another team.

That might not be the case with kicker Ryan Longwell, whose career in Green Bay could be over.

Contract talks between the Packers and Longwell don’t appear to have covered much ground in the final days leading up to free agency. There’s a feeling in the organization that Longwell might not give the Packers a chance to match an offer he gets from another team.

“Everybody’s professional, but we also know that free agency is free agency,” General Manager Ted Thompson said. “So you never know once that starts.”

City of St. Petersburg, FL to Honor Marty Lyons

2006-03-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

Marty Lyons, a 1975 graduate of St. Petersburg Catholic High School, will be honored by the city of St. Petersburg, Florida. An assembly will be held from 2:00-3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 27 at the St. John Bosco Center for the Arts at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. By proclamation of the city of St. Petersburg, March 27, 2006 will be known as "Marty Lyons Day." Friends and family will be in attendance at the ceremony.

Mr. Lyons was an All-American football player at the University of Alabama and a member of the feared New York Jets "Sack Exchange." He is also the founder of The Marty Lyons Foundation. The Foundation has granted over 3000 wishes to children suffering from life-threatening or terminal illnesses since it was incorporated in 1982. Lyons was named the National Football League Man of the Year in 1984 for this work with his foundation. Additionally, the New York Jets Outstanding Community Service Award has been renamed the Marty Lyons Award. Marty remains active in the Foundation and through Marty’s message of courage and the joy of wishes granted, The Foundation helps lift children’s spirits and lets the magic of hope lead their thoughts and dreams for the future. More information on the Foundation is available at www.martylyonsfoundation.org

In conjunction with the St. Petersburg ceremony, Marty will be making two media appearances. He will be on television as a guest on the Toyota Sports Connection on March 26 at 11:00 p.m. (Bay News 9--St. Petersburg). He will also appear on the radio as a guest on the Gus Lloyd Morning Show on March 27 at 8:15 a.m. (Spirit FM Radio--90.5 Tampa). At the St. Petersburg Catholic ceremony, Marty will speak to the students about his St. Pete Catholic experience and about how the students can make a difference in society.

The ceremony is open to the public. For more information, please contact Bob Kline at (727) 302-6337.

Straight from the Mule's Mouth

2006-03-06T15:23:00.000-08:00

The NFL Scouting Combine comes around every February, giving potential NFL draft candidates a stage to show off their talent. The tests of physical ability can make or break an entire career, as Maurice Clarett might explain, right after he finishes robbing you. Along with the physical tests, the NFL gives a mental exam that is meant to gauge a player's aptitude in a similar vein to the SAT.

The aptitude test is called the Wonderlic. It was started as a personnel exam for corporate use way back in 1937, and is still used by hundreds of businesses other than the NFL. Luckily for most cubical dwellers, no one cares enough to write newspaper articles about their performances.

Unluckily for a potential top-3 draft pick, the opposite rule applies: while scores are supposed to stay private, a surprisingly good or bad result will inevitably make its way onto ESPN and keep the conversations mill grinding for awhile.

After the Combine, rumors started to swirl that Vince Young scored a dismal six out of 50 on his Wonderlic. Later, his agent dismissed the rumors by saying his score was in fact 16, not six. While I'm not sure I believe his agent, 16 sounds significantly more promising, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

To put Young's result in perspective, the average NFL score is 19, and the average national score is 21. Dan Marino scored 16 points before going on to an excellent career, even if he never won the big game.

Conversely, Brian Griese received a remarkable 39 points, but he's still struggling for a starting spot. Not that you remember this guy, but Cade McNown received a well-above-average 28 points before becoming the biggest draft letdown in Chicago Bears history.
Drew Bledsoe managed an excellent 37 points, Brett Favre a reasonable 22 points and Daunte Culpepper 21 points.

Pat McInally, a punter from Harvard who played for the Cincinnati Bengals, is the only NFL player to achieve a perfect 50 on the test.

Unfortunately for Young, quarterbacks face the heaviest scrutiny of any position when it comes to the Wonderlic. Teams are willing to write off a low score from a running back or a kicker (LaDanian Tomlinson's 13 points and Sebastian Janikowski's nine aren't slowing them down), but a low test score sets off warning signals if the player is going to be the team's primary signal-caller.

While each position in football requires players to understand the playbook, a quarterback's ability to grasp the offense can be the keystone of a good team.

Luckily for Young, a good written exam score is not exactly what football teams are looking for. They want a tested player who has proven his skill and understanding of the game where it counts: on the football field. And Young has done just that, and done it more than once.
While the spotlight wasn't shining as brightly early on, Young figured out ways to win games. When the whole country was watching, he proved to all his skeptics that he was in fact the clutch player people had been talking about.

Even if a good Wonderlic score is not the most important qualification a player can bring to the draft, Young blew an opportunity to prove his doubters wrong. The immediate assumption was that Young couldn't be smart enough to lead a football team, on or off the field.
That assumption seems unfounded, because if you've ever watched him play football, you know a written test can't address his intangible talents or instincts on the field.

To borrow another example, Michael Vick never struck me as "intelligent," but he seems to have managed to get his head around the Atlanta playbook well enough.

Aside from being a missed opportunity, the test score -- be it six or 16 -- is of little consequence. Maybe if the questions were less "Paper costs 24 cents per pad. How much would four pads cost?" and more "It's the Rose Bowl, fourth-and-goal, and your team is trailing. What do you do?" then Young would have aced it.

Vince Young ought to have a successful career because his instincts allow him to answer the second question right, not because he knows that four pads of Wonderlic paper cost 96 cents.

Combine yields compelling stats

2006-03-05T17:15:00.000-08:00

NFL NOTEBOOK

Unlike 2005, there were no sub-4.30 second 40-yard dashes at this year's Indianapolis scouting combine.

The fastest official 40 was turned in by Clemson corner-back Ty Hill, who ran 4.30.
Like 2005, the defensive backs were the fastest group of prospects. Nine defensive backs ran in the 4.3s. The fastest behind Hill were South Carolina's Johnathan Joseph (4.31), Georgia's Tim Jennings (4.32) and Texas' Michael Huff (4.34).

The fastest players at other positions in the 4.3s were Florida receiver Chad Jackson (4.32), Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal (4.35), Maryland tight end Vernon Davis (4.38) and UCLA running back Maurice Drew (4.39).

Another player who blew away the scouts with his speed was North Carolina State defensive end Manny Lawson (4.43).

At 6-6, 245, Lawson might project to outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment.
No prospect put on a better show at the combine than Davis, who was ranked first at tight end, a position that has more talent and depth than any time in the past decade.
Davis ran a 4.38 but also had a 42-inch vertical leap and a standing broad jump of 10 feet, 8 inches.

How impressive was that broad jump? UCLA's Marcedes Lewis and Georgia's Leonard Pope — the second- and third-ranked tight ends — were tied for second at 9 feet, 10 inches.
North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams also turned an impressive performance. Williams (6-7, 295) can play end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 alignment. He can play tackle in a 4-3. Williams ran a 4.66 40. He had a vertical leap of 40 1/2 and bench-pressed 225 pounds 39 times.

Most important, Williams impressed the scouts with his attitude. He should be the first defensive player selected in the NFL draft, probably among the first five picks.
Texans eye SchobelThe Texans are one of the teams interested in Cincinnati tight end Matt Schobel, the Columbus native who played at TCU.
An unrestricted free agent who should be one of the hottest prospects at his position, Schobel is expcted to meet with the Texans on Monday. Buffalo and Minnesota also are interested in him.
Memo to VinceAfter the Wonderlic controversy at the scouting combine, where quarterback Vince Young was one of many highly rated prospects who didn't work out, Young needs to be ready to put on a show at the University of Texas' pro day March 22.

Every NFL team will be represented at the Austin workout for the Longhorns' prospects. Young should be comfortable throwing to receivers who helped him lead Texas to a title.
Young has intensified his workouts with Jerry Rhome, the longtime NFL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Here's a suggestion for Young: Be prepared ahead of time for anything and every-thing the scouts will want you to do. There can be no surprises.

Brocato ailingC.O. Brocato, who has scouted for the Oilers/Titans for 30 years, has been in an Indianapolis hospital since midway through the combine.

Brocato, regarded as one of the NFL's top scouts by just about everyone in the league, had to undergo emergency surgery for a staph infection in a hip that had been replaced.
Brocato, who resides in Arlington, is supposed to be moved to a hospital close to his home Monday to continue treatment for the infection.

With Brocato laid up at this time of year, the Titans are at a disadvantage.

End of an eraWith this past week's decision to waive offensive tackle Brad Hopkins, quarterback Steve McNair is the last Tennessee player to have competed for the Oilers.

Hopkins, the Oilers' first-round pick in 1993, played his first four seasons in Houston and his last nine in Nashville.

Hopkins, 35, has been one of the NFL's most underrated left tackles for years. He plans to sign with another team.

The Titans are moving Michael Roos, a 2005 second-round pick who started 15 games at right tackle as a rookie, to Hopkins' side.

McNair, the first-round pick in 1995, was trying to work out a new contract with the Titans.
The team paid a $1 million fee last week to retain McNair next season, and he can become a free agent afterward.

Super MarioGreen Bay would love to have North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams.
The Packers are desperate for help on defense, and Williams is the highest-rated prospect on that side of the ball. Every coach in the league would love to get his hands on the 6-7, 295-pound Williams.

"God didn't make too many guys like that," Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn said. "I don't know how in the world he can stay on the board too long."

In demandExpect defensive tackle Sam Adams, a Houston native, to land on his feet after Buffalo waived him this past week.

Adams, 32, had exceptional seasons in 2003 and 2004 when the Bills' defense was among the best in the NFL.

He played fewer than half the defensive snaps last season but should consider himself lucky because a lot of teams will want him if the price is right.

Don't be surprised if the Cincinnati Bengals make a serious run at Adams. They were 28th in defense and 22nd in points allowed.

Hot propertyOf all the free agents who are available and will be available, it says here none will be more valuable than kicker Adam Vinatieri.

The Patriots make few bad moves, but they could have franchised Vinatieri for $3.01 million.
That seems like a small price to pay for a player who can win games by himself.

A lot of teams, including Dallas and Green Bay, are interested in Vinatieri, who, despite kicking outdoors at home, scored at least 100 points in 10 consecutive seasons.
He won two Super Bowls with field goals.

Reports say he turned down the Patriots' offer of a multiyear deal averaging about $2 million per year.

Difference of opinionAccording to coach Lovie Smith, the Bears have total confidence in Rex Grossman as their starting quarterback.

But according to general manager Jerry Angelo, the starting job has not been secured by Grossman, who has suffered three major injuries in three seasons in the NFL.

"We've got to get our quarterback position stabilized," Angelo said at the scouting combine. "I'm not naive enough to think we're comfortable 100 percent with our situation. We're not.
"We like what we have, but we've got to see it over a period of time."

According to Smith: "Rex is definitely our No. 1 quarter-back. Rex is an excellent player. This should be the last time I have to answer that.

"It's not going to change, guys, any time on this."
John McClain covers the NFL for the Chronicle. john.mcclain@chron.com

Panthers tender contracts to free agents

2006-03-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

With the NFL's free agency signing period set to begin on Monday, the Carolina Panthers have tendered contracts to their five restricted free agents and six exclusive rights free agents, who in effect remain tied to the team.

A player who is finishing his third season in the League and whose contract expires after the 2005 season qualifies as a restricted free agent. Any player with an expiring contract but with less than three years in the League is an exclusive rights free agent. Carolina can retain the rights to these players by making a qualifying contract offer or tendering a contract.

Restricted Players Tendered Exclusive Rights Players Tendered

Pos Player Round Drafted Pos Player

S Colin Branch Fourth (2003) DT Jordan Carstens

LB Vinny Ciurciu Undrafted FB Casey Cramer

CB Ricky Manning, Jr. Third (2003) DT Atiyyah Ellison

DT Kindal Moorehead Fifth (2003) S Jermaine Hardy

TE Mike Seidman Third (2003) WR Efrem Hill

The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the League and its players predetermines the salary level for the tendered qualifying offers. With Carolina's restricted free agents, the Panthers tender offer ensures a right-of-first-refusal for these players, plus the potential for draft-choice compensation in some cases should the players sign elsewhere. With exclusive rights players, Carolina's tender offer wraps up exclusive negotiating rights with that player for the entire coming year.

A restricted free agent can negotiate with any club through April 21. If the player has not received an offer from another club by April 21, the restricted player's negotiating rights revert exclusively back to the Panthers. Prior to April 21, if the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new team, Carolina can match the offer and retain him. If the Panthers do not match the offer, they can possibly receive draft-choice compensation. In most cases, a restricted free agent is tendered what is called an original tender. This ensures the right-of-first-refusal plus draft pick compensation, but only if the player was originally drafted when he entered the League. In the event compensation becomes due, the draft choice surrendered by the signing team would be the same as the round in which that player was originally drafted.

There are two higher levels for a restricted free agent, both at higher salary amounts as well. A first-round tender could be made to any player, regardless of that player's original draft position. In this case, the team still retains the right to match any offer, or the team may choose to accept a first-round pick from the signing team. The first-and-third restricted free agent tender is similar, except the draft choice compensation increases by the additional third-round pick received.

DEBACLE II: LOST IN THE DESERT

2006-03-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

Iâ€™m still scratching my head today.
I remember I started out three games and three quarters into this season thinking

SUPERBOWL!

During the Rams game, my mind was racing to where I would get accommodations if my season tickets bore the fruit to a seat in the single biggest game in the world?
I wondered if I could take off work knowing that my supervisor would never shut me out of the once in a lifetime event?

My Seattle Seahawks, the long suffering franchise had finally arrived! I was in Seahawk heaven!
Fast forward to Arizona

Now Iâ€™m three games and one quarter removed from that feeling. Like a rock climber who desperately holds onto a buddy while the rope slips slowly through my hands. Thatâ€™s where I am; just holding on.

Where did that quarterback go? Did they figure out a way to destroy the West Coast Offense? Come on now, how could that be? Hasselbeckâ€™s QB rating of 18.9 is simply abysmal. Many passes I saw were completed to Cardinals like they were the intended receiver.

We knew the receivers were sometime known to be dubious at catching the ball. But always there to rally the troops was steady Hassâ€¦well not this Sunday.

Sunday Hasselbeck was frazzled, he made bad decisions and sadly he forced the ball.
Itâ€™s not all on him even if he takes the credit. The offensive line was like those swinging doors in an old west saloon. Defenders came through unblocked. The QB was hurried, manhandled and chased. And when left with good protection he occasionally made some good throws.

But it wasnâ€™t enough

Give credit to the Arizona Cardinals, they brought their A game. They made a statement. They played to say, "Nobodyâ€™s kicking sand in our face anymore."

Like I stated in my game match up; the Cards have been in every game. If we went in there expecting the 2003 Cards we would be sorely mistaken.

Iâ€™m sad to say we were.
Our biggest single problem is execution and fundamentals. Itâ€™s not like these guys are not talented. Itâ€™s not like we are in the middle of some rebuilding stage and we should expect this. We should be getting the most out of these players and we are not.
Whoâ€™s to blame?

Look no matter what you read, nobody has figured a way to beat a precise WCO. But the keyword here is precision; right now we donâ€™t have that.

Itâ€™s easy to say, "Fire Holmgren!" He has basically bought the groceries and cooked the meal. But I think itâ€™s more his sense of loyalty and pride thatâ€™s killing him.
Loyalty to a staff that by all accounts isnâ€™t producing a polished result, pride for starting players that probably should have seen some time on the bench weeks ago and loyalty to a receiverâ€™s coach who should be shown the door.

So in the end, yeah itâ€™s the head coaches fault. But it isnâ€™t for the reasons you might think.

How do we turn it around?

They need to go out and have fun playing football. Win or lose they need to leave their best game on the field every game. Not just the games they are expected to win. They need to play lights out football, not lights on but no oneâ€™s home football.

I believe our best games are in the future. I know that kind of goes without saying, but I believe we are not out of this race. Guys will get experience, guys will get healthy. Four game suspensions will be over.

And hopefully in the end these games will just be a distant memory of how bad we "were" and not how good we became.

Folks, the bar canâ€™t be lowered any further. Itâ€™s time to ante up.
Iâ€™m still on the wagon, but Iâ€™m noticing more legroom thatâ€™s for sure.
See you at the Q on Sunday.

Detroit Cheli's scores in new hot spot

2006-03-03T05:29:00.000-08:00

The lowdown: No one could accuse Chris Chelios of taking it easy. Fresh off a stint captaining the U.S. Olympic hockey team and still slogging away for the Red Wings as the oldest player in the NHL, the 44-year-old just unveiled his second area Cheli's Chili Bar. This one's in downtown Detroit, in a fabulously rehabbed space that's barely a slap shot away from Comerica Park.
For those comfortable with the Dearborn venue, which opened in 2003 and features a noisy sports bar vibe, the Detroit location is more subdued and upscale, with polished woods, dimmed lighting and a notable absence of athletic memorabilia.

It opened during Super Bowl week for private Nike-sponsored parties that hosted some of the NFL's biggest names (Tom Brady, Steve Young, Cris Carter). It's had a soft opening over the past few weeks, and is now gearing up for a more active month, including today's debut of the second bar level and a charity grand opening on March 13 .

Atmosphere: Impressive. Cheli's immediately joins a small handful of venues competing for the title of top downtown hangout. On a recent Saturday evening, it had an almost martini bar feel, the clientele a mixture of suits and hipster nightclubbers. This past Monday was quiet and laid-back, just a dozen or so people grubbing while watching the Pistons on a plethora of flat-screens.
As word gets out, Cheli's will likely take on the tone of nearby events -- ballgames, concerts or theater. It's a surefire bet for Tigers games, with some bar seats providing a view of Comerica Park's southwest entrance, growling bengals and all.

Decor: Management won't say how much was spent on the rehab of the Tudor-style building, but it's clear that expense wasn't the major concern. Originally built in the 1880s and sitting on the northeastern side of Grand Circus Park, what's now Cheli's was almost entirely gutted to produce the current incarnation.

The most notable addition is the main floor's mahogany bar, a long and striking Brunswick-style saddle-up that was modeled on a 1900s-era version that Chelios picked out himself. The mahogany theme is carried throughout, though you'll also see lighter wood accents, the building's original rust-orange brickwork and blackened, industrial-style ceilings.

The second floor houses the kitchen and a cozy mezzanine VIP room -- primarily for Chelios' pals. What management calls the second floor is really the third and features bar No. 2, with video games.

Crowd: Still developing, but management expects that the clientele will be less casual and more evening-out oriented. The obvious exception will be on game days, when the sports-inclined will dominate. Capacity is about 350 between the two levels.

Dress: So far it's been slightly dressy, with a mix of after-work folks and those who think that jeans-and-a-tee don't quite cut it for a night on the town.

Food and drink: Because the emphasis is more on nightlife, they've brought only about half the menu from the Dearborn location, including the namesake chili, which comes in three flavors -- none that sets your mouth afire (served in several variations, $3.95-$6.25). Much of the rest is typical bar offerings, from appetizers to burgers ($6.75-$8.50). They're most hyped about the in-house smoked fare, including the pulled pork sandwich, for which we can vouch.

Drinks: About 20 bottled beers and 12 drafts, including some working-class touches in Old Style and Stroh's, ranging from $2.50-$4.50. The mainstays line the hard-liquor shelf, with mixed drinks running $4-$9.

Music and entertainment: They're experimenting with weekend bands. Tonight rock and R&B cover band 50 Amp Fuse -- a Saturday regular in Dearborn -- performs.

TVs: 36 mid-size flat-screens plasmas that hit just about every sight line.

Hopping possibilities: Within easy walking distance, there's the Detroit Beer Co., the State Bar, just-opened martini bar Proof and Fifth Avenue Downtown, to name but a few.
Cover: None, as of now.

Notable: Cheli's employees say he is intimately involved with all the big decisions -- perhaps no surprise because he began working at various family restaurants when he was a small kid. "He wants to know everything that's going on," says Rob Marano, general manager of the Dearborn location and operations manager in Detroit. "He's the backbone."
Parking: On-street and pay lots are nearby.

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, possibly earlier depending on crowds. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. weekends, with noon openings to coincide with events.

Agents for Jets' Abraham look for a trade

2006-03-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

Several teams have expressed interest in acquiring Jets defensive end John Abraham, who has made it clear he wants out of New York.

Meanwhile, the Jets appear to be in a holding pattern with quarterback Chad Pennington, who needs to renegotiate his contract to stay with the team. They needed to get a deal done March 2 but got a reprieve when the start of free agency was delayed three days.

Abraham, who last week was placed with the franchise tag for the second straight year, probably won't play for the Jets again. His agents, Tony Agnone and Rich Rosa, said on a conference call that four or five teams said they were "definitely interested" in Abraham but declined to name them.

"Change is good and for John Abraham moving forward, change would be good for him," Rosa said. "You get to a point in your career as a player when there's been some unfulfilled promises ... you have to move through that because it's a business. That's what we've been able to do with John, have his sights set on a brighter future."

Abraham is unhappy the Jets have failed to deliver a long-term deal, even though they all but assured him they would if he played in every game in 2005. He did, but was given a one-year, $8.33 million franchise tender. Abraham has yet to sign it while his agents weigh their options.
"Unfortunately, great players from great teams end up on another team," Rosa said. "This is a business decision and he's not an angry player. This is not about the money with John. This is about being somewhere and being a leader on a team that has a chance to win a championship."
Agnone and Rosa said in the best case scenario, they would come to a long-term deal with an interested team and then have the new club work out a trade with the Jets. They hoped to have something done before the draft in April.

Last year, Abraham had 10½ sacks even though he came in late to training camp. Abraham, a three-time Pro Bowl selection in six seasons, has 53½ sacks, fourth on the team's all-time list.
Pennington said earlier this week he wants to stay with the Jets, but his base salary needs to be slashed in order for his contract to fit under the salary cap. The Jets were $26 million over a projected $94.5 million cap, and were also considering the futures of center Kevin Mawae and guard Pete Kendall.

Panthers release Short; Minter reaches deal

2006-03-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

The Carolina Panthers released linebacker Brandon Short as they continued to slash their payroll to meet the NFL's salary cap.

Short's dismissal saved the team almost $2 million, and safety Mike Minter finalized a restructure of his contract that gave Carolina a $1.7 million cushion.

The two moves, coupled with the March 1 $4 million cuts of veterans Brentson Buckner, Stephen Davis and Rod Smart, put the Panthers very close to the $94.5 million limit they must reach before the start of free agency.

The salary cap number could still change. It was set earlier when NFL owners voted to end talks with the players' union over a new contract. But later in the day, the league extended its deadline for free agency to begin by three days from March 3 to March 6.

It now gives the union 72 more hours to negotiate a contract extension to the labor agreement that could add about $10 million.

The Panthers are one of the many NFL teams that desperately need that added cushion.
If the cap is not adjusted, it will leave the Panthers little room to work with in their pursuit of free agents -- including re-signing several of their own players.

Linebacker Will Witherspoon is expected to test the free-agent market and as of now, the Panthers don't have much money to compete with potential suitors.

Short's release, coupled with Witherspoon's now probable departure, would leave Carolina with oft-injured Dan Morgan as the only returning starting linebacker. The Panthers would likely turn to Thomas Davis, a first-round draft pick last year who bounced around between safety and linebacker during training camp before settling into a hybrid role of both positions.
Short signed with Carolina in 2004 after spending four years with the New York Giants, where he played on John Fox's defense. He played in 32 regular season games, starting 18, the past two years.

He was due a $250,000 roster bonus March 3.

NFL delays start of free agency period

2006-03-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

The National Football League has decided to push back the start of the 2006 free agency period by three days, according to the league and its players' association.

NFL owners unanimously voted to halt talks with the union on a labor contract extension on Thursday, but both sides can now continue working toward a new deal.

Instead of Friday morning at 12:01 a.m. (et), the free agency period is now scheduled to start at 12:01 a.m. (et) on Monday.

Teams would have had to begin cutting players on Thursday afternoon to trim payroll under the expected $94.5 million salary cap for the 2006 season and a number of high-profile names would likely have been among the casualties.

Earlier on Thursday, owners met for less than an hour and decided to reject the latest proposal from the union.

"It's as dire as dire can be," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said during a Thursday morning news conference.

To make matters more complicated, NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw has repeatedly stated in recent days that players would not agree to a salary cap again if a deal is not reached.

The current contract runs through the 2007 season, but there is no salary cap provision after the 2006 campaign.

The union is reportedly asking for 60 percent of league revenues in a revised labor deal, three percent more than it currently receives.

Deadline for free agency extended

2006-03-02T17:04:00.000-08:00

A few hours after NFL owners voted to continue their standoff with the players union, the league extended its deadline for free agency by three days, putting off what threatened to become a mass purge of high-priced players from rosters.

League vice president Joe Browne announced the delay Thursday afternoon, seven hours before the midnight deadline.

The owners' vote after a 57-minute meeting earlier in the day had seemed to end 13 years of labor peace between the league and its union.

Browne did not elaborate on the deadline delay, which gives the union 72 more hours to negotiate a contract extension to the labor agreement that could add about $10 million to the current salary cap of $94.5 million. Many teams spent the day scrambling to get under that figure, and a number of big-name players were expected to be cut.

Free agency will now start at 12:01 a.m. EST Monday instead of Friday.

That move puts off free agency for a class led by two running backs: NFL MVP Shaun Alexander of Seattle and Edgerrin James of Indianapolis. If other players were to be cut because of the salary cap and hit the market, free agents would find fewer buyers and less money available.

The extension came seven hours after commissioner Paul Tagliabue had announced "the situation is as dire as dire can be." There was a pall around the league as general managers struggled to find cap room and agents tried to figure out how to sell clients in a market with less money and a potential glut of players.

In fact, the owners' meeting was so short that a lot of people who expected a 12-hour session arrived after most of the owners had departed the New York hotel where they met, braving a mix of ice and snow to try to get home quickly. It was thought at the time to be a strange rubber stamp by owners who had flown to New York from around the country.
The extension rekindled hope amid the rhetoric.

"I won't come down," Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association, said when hearing of the owners' morning action. "The players know that. Only the owners can make a proposal."

Upshaw and the union are asking for 60 percent of league revenue for players, four percentage points more than the owners are offering.

There are two years left on the labor agreement first signed in 1993 and extended continually before the deadline.

But unless there is an agreement, there will be no salary cap in 2007, which could create big-spending "haves" and low-revenue "have-nots," a situation that has prevailed in other sports such as baseball. That also has traps for teams and players: a player would be eligible for free agency only after six years instead of the current four; there would be no salary minimum, and annual raises would be limited to 30 percent.

That is complicated by an internal dispute over revenue sharing between big- and small-money teams, a battle that has accelerated as outside revenue has increased from sources from stadium naming rights to local radio. That money is expected to be included in the new labor contract for the first time.

Upshaw contends that internal dispute should be settled before the labor agreement is reached, but the owners didn't even discuss it Thursday.

"Sure we should discuss it," said Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson, one of the have-nots. "But we didn't."

The ramifications for this year go beyond free agency. Cap problems will make it hard for teams to sign their draft picks, especially the high ones.

"We can always find creative ways to do things," said Leigh Steinberg, the agent for Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart, expected to be chosen no later than third in the draft.
"But I hope by draft time we will be beyond that. As teams peer into the abyss, as they peer into the apocalypse, sanity will return. When the NFLPA and management truly recognize the nature of no agreement, their intelligence and rationality will force them into making a deal."
Leinart wouldn't be the only one to wait. So will many free agents.

In addition to Alexander, James and Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis, among the most desirable players on the market include San Francisco linebackers Julian Peterson and Andre Carter; wide receivers Antwaan Randle El of Pittsburgh and David Givens of New England; cornerbacks Charles Woodson of Oakland and Ty Law, a Pro Bowler with the Jets last season, and linebacker Will Witherspoon of Carolina.

Then there is quarterback Drew Brees of San Diego, although his value went down when he injured his throwing shoulder in the final game of 2005.

One star was guaranteed free agency in 2007 when Tennessee paid $1 million to quarterback Steve McNair, voiding the final three years of a contract that would have kept him with the Titans until 2009. McNair will still count for a whopping $23.5 million against the salary cap due to previous bonuses in his contract.

Test scores don’t play out on the field

2006-03-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

Do you remember what you scored on the SAT? Better yet, does your employer?
You might recall the 1100 that may or may not have gotten you into State University. But chances are your boss not only doesn’t know, but also doesn’t care what you scored on an aptitude test you took as a teenager.

At the recent National Football League Combine in Indianapolis — where college draft prospects showcase their talents to their potential employers — former Texas quarterback Vince Young made news when he reportedly scored either a six or a 16 on the Wonderlic test. The average score on the intelligence test is a 20, with a perfect score of 50.

Discrepancies in Young’s score aside, many NFL draft analysts are predicting Young’s stock will plummet because of his Wonderlic results. Prior to the combine, Young was projected as a No. 3 pick, right where the Titans are set to draft in April.

But ask the Titans what they think about Steve McNair’s 15 on the Wonderlic. Then ask the Miami Dolphins if Dan Marino’s 16 was a good indicator of the kind of football player he became.
Standardized intelligence tests are good guides, but they’re not the end-all, be-all in judging someone’s skill set.

Ch-ch-ch-changesAs you may have already noticed, we debuted a new-look page one and back page this morning. These changes are part of an evolving new look, which will unfold over the next few months. Aesthetics aside, the inner beauty of the paper — our local content — will still be front and center. Please click here to download a PDF of today's front page.

Jets Make Roster Moves

2006-03-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

The New York Jets announced today that the following players have been placed on waivers: tackle Jason Fabini, quarterback Jay Fiedler, linebacker Barry Gardner, defensive tackle Lance Legree, fullback Jerald Sowell and wide receiver Harry Williams, Jr. Additionally, the Jets and CB Ty Law mutually agreed today not to exercise the contract options for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons. The announcements were made by New York Jets’ General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

"Jason Fabini and Jerald Sowell enjoyed long and productive careers as members of the Jets’ franchise and we are grateful for their contributions. They both were players that the Jets could rely upon every week," said Tannenbaum. "Jay has traveled a long road as a professional athlete and has enjoyed a very productive career. Barry and Lance joined our team last season and are both quality players that unfortunately don’t fit into our plans as we move forward. We wish all of them success as they progress in their careers and we thank them for their contributions to the New York Jets."

"We were very fortunate to have a player of Ty’s caliber in 2005," continued Tannenbaum. "Ty is a warrior and a class-act and we appreciate his contributions this past season."

Fabini, a 6-7, 304-pound product of the University of Cincinnati, recently completed his eighth season with the Jets. The 31-year old suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the November 13, 2005 game at Carolina in the first quarter and was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list on November 14, 2005. Fabini, a fourth-round draft selection by the Jets in 1998, started every game he had played in at the pro level (114 regular season games). After beginning his career as a right tackle (1998-1999), he moved to the starting left tackle spot during the team’s 2000 training camp and manned the position through the first quarter of the 2005 season before returning to right tackle following a sprained knee injury in game three vs. Jacksonville. In 1998 Fabini earned the distinction of becoming the first Jets’ rookie offensive lineman to play and start in all 16 games since left tackle Chris Ward in 1978, and he also became the first rookie right tackle to start in all 16 games since Marvin Powell accomplished the feat in 1977. Fabini also started all seven postseason games he played in as a member of the Jets during his eight seasons in New York.

Fiedler, 34, recently completed his 10th NFL season, and his first season as amember of the Jets. The 6-2, 225-pound graduate
of Dartmouth, who was raised in nearby Oceanside, NY, signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 10, 2005, following five seasons (2000-2004) with the Miami Dolphins. After going undrafted in 1994 Fiedler originally broke into the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles (1994-95). He also played in 1998 with the Minnesota Vikings and in 1999 with the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining the Dolphins in 2000. Fiedler has played in 77 regular season NFL games, making 60 starts, and has attempted 1,717 passes with 1,008 completions for 11,844 yards and a completion percentage of 58.7 with 69 touchdown passes, 66 interceptions and a career passer rating of 77.1. In addition to his career passing statistics, Fielder has gained 854 yards rushing on 219 attempts for a career rushing average of 3.9 yards per carry.

In 2005, Fiedler’s lone season with the Jets, he played in two games (contests one and three) and completed eight-of-13 passes for 107 yards with one touchdown for a passer rating of 113.1. He relieved starter Chad Pennington in the season opener at Kansas City and completed six-of-10 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. He did not play in game two against his former team (Miami), but did play in game three against Jacksonville after Pennington was forced out of action with a shoulder injury. Fielder completed two-out-of-three passes for 19 yards before being sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve on December 15, 2005.

Gardner, signed by the Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2005, began his career in 1999 as a second round draft selection of the Philadelphia Eagles. The 29-year old native of Harvey, IL moved from the Eagles to Cleveland in 2002 via unrestricted free agency and played for the Browns through the 2004 season before joining the Jets. Gardner, 6-1, 245-pounds, has played in 110 regular season games, making 24 starts, and has registered 268 tackles, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. He has also collected 136 career special teams tackles. In 2005 with the Jets, Gardner played in all 16 games, making one start, and had four tackles and 20 special teams stops.

In 2005, Law, 32, posted a career-high in interceptions with 10, which earned him his fifth trip to the Pro Bowl. For the season Law started all 16 games and recorded 66 tackles and 13 passes defended. The Aliquippa, PA native and product of the University Michigan, was selected in the first round of the 1995 draft by the New England Patriots and played has played in 157 career regular season games during his ten-year career, starting 149 contests, and amassed 714 tackles, 155 passes defensed, 46 interceptions for 778 yards, four sacks and recovered fumbles and three forced fumbles. In addition to the three Super Bowl titles he earned while with New England, Law has started all 12 postseason games he has played in and recorded 54 tackles, 12 passes defensed and four interceptions.

Legree played in all 16 games for the Jets in 2005, after signing as an unrestricted free agent following his first four professional seasons with the New York Giants. In 2005, the 27-year old native of St. Stephens, SC registered 25 tackles and a career-high three sacks, seeing the majority of his playing time late in the season at one of the defensive tackle positions. The 6-1, 300-pound product of Notre Dame has played in 75 career regular season games, making 24 starts, and has compiled 141 career tackles, seven sacks for -55 yards, along with two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a pass defensed.

Sowell, 30, concluded his ninth season with the Jets in 2005. Following his selection in the seventh round of the 1997 draft by the Green Bay Packers he was waived at the end of his rookie training camp and subsequently claimed off of waivers by the Jets. The former Tulane Green Wave featured running back converted to fullback with the Jets and went on to play 135 regular season games with the Jets, making 48 starts (all coming between 2003-2005) and registered 147 career receptions for 1,188 yards (8.1 average) and five touchdowns. He also carried the football 61 times for 244 yards for a 4.0 career rushing average and one score. He is also the Jets’ all-time leading special teams tackler with 146 stops. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, the Baker, LA native owned the distinction of having played in 137 consecutive regular season contests, which marked the longest active streak among players on the team’s final roster.

Williams, 6-3, 185-pounds, was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 draft by the Jets. The native of Birmingham, AL attended Tuskegee University and appeared in one game as a rookie, playing on special teams in game 13 against New England. He did not post any statistics in the receptions, punt returns or kickoff returns categories. As a collegian, Williams concluded his career with 83 receptions for 1,584 yards (19.1 avg.) and eight touchdowns.

NFL Players Head Back to School

2006-02-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

More than 100 current and former football players traded the gridiron for the classroom yesterday, as the NFL and NFL Player's Association kicked off an expanded version of their Business Management and Entrepreneurial Training Program at four of the nation’s top business schools.

Players began the first of two three-day programs at Harvard Business School and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, both which will hold follow-up sessions starting April 3. Other players will begin the first session of classes at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the Stanford Graduate School of Business on March 6. Last year's inaugural program featured 66 players at Harvard and Wharton.

At Harvard, 35 players, including Chad Lewis of the Philadelphia Eagles, Tank Williams of the Tennessee Titans, and the recently-retired Eddie George, are immersing themselves in the school's case method by focusing on actual financial problems from the business world.
Professors aren't going easy on their new students -- players in Harvard's program will meet each day for breakfast at 7 a.m. and attend a study group at 8 a.m. The rest of the day is filled with small classes on topics such as investing, fiduciary and investment concerns, finance, marketing, and general management. Each day concludes with a group dinner and another battery of case studies as homework for the following day.

While some of the players had a little trouble adjusting the life back in the classroom last year, Carl Kester, chairman of the finance unit at Harvard Business School, said that the group also put forth the type of effort expected from professionals in any field.

"Last year's players really jumped into the pool real fast," Kester said. "The one thing that struck me is how remarkably disciplined these guys are."

At Wharton's program, much like Harvard's, 35 players will spend the majority of their time on and around campus, eating together and living in campus accommodations. Peter Winicov, senior associate director of communications at Wharton, said this makes for a close-knit student body without any trace of their on-field rivalries.

"By no means were they passive students," Winicov of last year's group. "By the end of the week, they seemed like a typical MBA class."

For its part, Harvard’s program also tackles the inner businessman. A portion of the program called "Managing Yourself" takes an introspective approach to entrepreneurship by subjecting players to a variety of inward-looking evaluation methods, such as the Myers-Briggs personality test.

In the month-long break between sessions, players attending Harvard's program will be encouraged to prepare business ideas they'd like to discuss and flesh out in the second three-day session. Their business ideas will be subject to "focused feedback sessions" with fellow students and faculty advisers.

Although the entrepreneurial spirit already seems to be alive and well in some NFL players -- Kester recalled Dhani Jones of the Philadelphia Eagles seeking advice about his startup bowtie business -- the Harvard program also trains players to avoid some of the pitfalls of their wealth. Players, Kester said, frequently receive outside business offers.

"While we’re training them in business skills, we also want to teach them how to be good investors," Kester said "We try to arm them a little better."

Top 10 NFL Draft prospects

2006-02-28T09:17:00.000-08:00

Here's a thumbnail look at the top 10 prospects in this draft, based on interviews with NFL scouts and coaches at the scouting combine this week:

1. Reggie Bush, RB, USC (6-0, 205)

A junior who's a true game-breaker. That, plus his accomplished receiving talents, have convinced some scouts he's a slightly smaller version of Marshall Faulk. Last season, he averaged 8.7 yards a carry, scored 16 touchdowns and averaged more than 222 all-purpose yards a game. Almost surely will be the first pick.

"That's a slam dunk based on what I've seen," said Baltimore coach Brian Billick. "He's much bigger than I thought. He'd be hard to pass up."

The offensive coordinator for an NFC team likened him to Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, and a high-ranking scout for another team said the only thing the team drafting him has to do is not overuse him because of the punishment he might take in the NFL. "You have to be careful, but he can change a game any time he touches it," the scout said.

2. Matt Leinart, QB, USC (6-4 ¼, 224)

A proven winner with poise, talent, intelligence and great game-management skills. Not as good a prospect as former teammate Carson Palmer but probably will be the first quarterback off the board unless some team can't resist Vince Young's upside. Three-year starter who went 37-2, completed 64.8 percent of his passes and threw 99 touchdowns to only 23 interceptions. Biggest question is arm strength.

"Is he the best at this or this or this? Who's to say?" said one quarterbacks coach. "But there's not a lot of holes in him, so you're going to be very comfortable taking him. Whether he hits or not, it's a crapshoot at quarterback, but you're not going to lose a lot of sleep at night because he doesn't have this or that. He seems pretty good in everything. Maybe not the best, but he doesn't have a lot of holes."

3. Vince Young, QB, Texas (6-4 3/8, 233)

Had scouts whispering late in the season that he could rocket up draft boards if he entered as a junior, then became a sensation with his outstanding performance in carrying Texas over USC in the national championship game. A huge man with outstanding speed who completed 65.2 percent of his passes and threw 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Also rushed for 1,050 yards. Some scouts are concerned about his low throwing delivery and that his propensity to break the pocket and run will lead to injuries. Others consider him an untapped talent who in a few years could be one of the game's elite players if an offense is adjusted for his athletic talent and ability to make throws and run on the edge. Has leadership skills, and many scouts consider him a better prospect than Michael Vick.

"He's further along right now just in that he understands touch and finesse in the passing game," one scout said. "Vick has no clue, Vick's just a thrower. This guy is more of a quarterback that understands taking something off the ball. Vick is quicker, Vick is going to be faster, but this is a much bigger human being."

4. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia (6-6, 297)

The best offensive lineman in the draft, a four-year starter who has the long arms and athletic ability of a prototypical left tackle. Dominated in the Senior Bowl and has graduated from college.

"He's not a power tackle. He's a left tackle through and through," one scout said. "He's got some length to him, he's got really good feet, he can bend. He's very athletic. But he's 300 pounds, and he's never going to be a 330-pound tough guy. He might be a 315-, (3)20-pound finesse tackle."

5. Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State (6-7, 295)

A junior who might be one of the two or three most-gifted players in this draft, and some scouts think he's more talented coming out of college than Carolina's Julius Peppers, the No. 2 pick in 2002 who's become one of the dominant defensive linemen in the game. Didn't play well early in the season but came on the second half and finished with 14½ sacks. Has a rare combination of size and speed, and could move into the top three or four picks with a jaw-dropping workout. Only thing that will bring him down is if background checks reveal red flags.

Scouts and coaches marvel at his talent — "I think he's going to be more instinctive than (Peppers)," one scout said — but some wonder if he's too immature to live up to his ability. "Small-town guy, everything's always been handed to him," another said. "They took care of him in college, he's never really had to overcome anything. Sounds a lot like (former North Carolina State receiver) Koren Robinson."

6. Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt (6-2 7/8, 223 pounds)

Has moved up draft boards because of his play in practice at the Senior Bowl, probably will be a top-10 pick. Some teams think he's a better prospect than Leinart and Young, though most appear to consider him just behind those two. Has the gunslinger's swagger and strong arm, as well as almost identical size, that draw some comparisons to Brett Favre. Four-year starter who didn't have much talent around him but made his undermanned team competitive in the tough Southeastern Conference. As a senior, he completed 59.1 percent of his passes and threw 21 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

"His athleticism, he seems to have that kind of quality about him where he can throw a team on his back and do some things," Billick said. "He clearly has the physical abilities." Said a scout: "He's raw as anything from the standpoint of understanding how to play the position. He's always gotten by on just being a competitive guy that has a strong arm. I'm not saying he can't be a good NFL quarterback, but there's too many question marks to take him high, high. People can compare him to Favre all they want. It's not fair. Brett overcame so much stuff, and he's such a leader. People say that because (Cutler) is a gunslinger right now. But his mechanics are way behind."

7. A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State (6-1 1/8, 243)

Not an overwhelming talent, but a top player with size and speed. Has all the qualities — intelligence, instincts, strength, range — a team could look for in a middle linebacker short of Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. Led Ohio State in tackles (121), tackles for a loss (16½) and sacks (9½).

"I like him a lot. It's just where do you take a linebacker?" said one top personnel executive. "He's not special but he's a good football player. He's a safe pick, because whoever takes him, he's going to come in and start year one."

8. Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech (6-2 1/8, 216)

A physical cornerback with prototypical size, plus 40-yard dash speed in the low 4.4s or even high 4.3s. Is the best player at a premium position. Has some ball-hawking skills, and intercepted eight passes in his career. Scouts will check his background closely, though, because of temperamental concerns. Was ejected from the Gator Bowl this year for bumping an official, and has been known to bark at coaches.

"He's really talented," one scout said. "The whole key is to get inside his head and see what he's wired like. There's so many question marks about his football intelligence, why he got kicked out of a game, why did he argue with coaches, a bunch of things." Said another scout: "In my opinion, he's the third-most talented football player in the draft behind Bush and Mario Williams, just God-given talent. You can throw Vince Young in there."

9. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon (6-4, 338)

Junior who's the top defensive tackle in the draft, a dominant run defender with great size as an anchor and good quickness. Had nine tackles for a loss and three sacks last season, and in his career blocked seven kicks. Blew out his knee in 2003 but came back strong the last two years. "You wonder how instinctive a football player he is," one scout said. "Big, powerful, strong. You just don't know if he understands football."

10. Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland (6-3, 252)

Texas safety Michael Huff and Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway are among the other prospects who could end up top-10 picks, as well. Davis, though, is a junior whose combination of size, running ability and hands makes him a rarity — a potential impact tight end. He'll probably run the 40 in less than 4.5 seconds and averaged 17.1 yards on 51 receptions last season. Only thing he lacks is prototypical height. "I think he's better than Kellen Winslow (Jr.)," one scout said, referring to the tight end Cleveland selected with the No. 6 pick overall in 2004. "This guy can block, too."

NFL owners, union in urgency mode

2006-02-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

The NFL free agency season is scheduled to open just after midnight Thursday, so a sense of urgency finally has arrived to work out a new collective bargaining agreement.

The league and the NFL Players Association negotiated on Monday, with speculation something could be worked out by Thursday. Perhaps as an indication a deal is imminent, NFL owners have scheduled a 4 p.m. conference call on Tuesday to discuss the labor situation.

Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA executive director, has been adamant he will not push back the start of free agency, but if a deal is done or close to being done, it's very possible the start of free agency will be delayed one week to let teams adjust to the new salary cap figures.

It's also conceivable the clock could be stopped so each side can present the deal to its constituents next week for approval. The owners have a meeting scheduled in Dallas a week from Tuesday and the union holds its annual meeting with the players reps in Hawaii on March 10. The union's executive board meets one day earlier.

If there is no deal, then free agency will start with more restrictive rules: Signing bonuses only will be allowed to be pro-rated over four years instead of the usual six and annual salaries can only increase by 30 percent per year. In addition, the salary cap is expected to be set at $95 million. If a new CBA is worked out, the cap could reach $100 million-$104 million.

As of now, without a new CBA, the 2007 season will an uncapped year. Upshaw has said if that happens, the players will never agree to go back to a salary cap. But that comes with concessions: The unrestricted free agency requirement jumps from four years of service to six years, which could reduce the pool of eligible players by 50 percent.

Teams are scrambling to get under the cap, with different plans mapped out depending on where the numbers wind up. The Jets, whose cap number recently was $124 million, are down to $107 million. Curtis Martin provided them with $3.7 million of relief when he took a huge cut, lowering his base salary this season from $6.2 million to $2.5 million. They are looking to take a huge slice out of Chad Pennington's $15 million cap number. The Giants are at $95 million.
If CBA talks break off, then predictions of massive player cuts by several teams to get under the cap could become reality.

On the board: Ten prospects for Pack to ponder

2006-02-26T17:12:00.000-08:00

A thumbnail look at the top 10 prospects in this draft, based on interviews with NFL scouts and coaches at the scouting combine this week:

1. Reggie Bush, RB, USC (6-0, 205): A junior who’s a true game-breaker. That, plus his accomplished receiving talents, have convinced some scouts he’s a slightly smaller version of Marshall Faulk. Last season, he averaged 8.7 yards a carry, scored 16 touchdowns and averaged more than 222 all-purpose yards a game. Almost surely will be the first pick. “That’s a slam dunk based on what I’ve seen,” said Baltimore coach Brian Billick. “He’s much bigger than I thought. He’d be hard to pass up.” The offensive coordinator for an NFC team likened him to Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, and a high-ranking scout for another team said the only thing the team drafting him has to do is not overuse him because of the punishment he might take in the NFL. “You have to be careful, but he can change a game any time he touches it,” the scout said.

2. Matt Leinart, QB, USC (6-4¼, 224): A proven winner with poise, talent, intelligence and great game-management skills. Not as good a prospect as former teammate Carson Palmer but probably will be the first quarterback off the board unless some team can’t resist Vince Young’s upside. Three-year starter who went 37-2, completed 64.8 percent of his passes and threw 99 touchdowns to only 23 interceptions. Biggest question is arm strength. “Is he the best at this or this or this? Who’s to say?” said one quarterbacks coach. “But there’s not a lot of holes in him, so you’re going to be very comfortable taking him. Whether he hits or not, it’s a crapshoot at quarterback, but you’re not going to lose a lot of sleep at night because he doesn’t have this or that. He seems pretty good in everything. Maybe not the best, but he doesn’t have a lot of holes.”

3. Vince Young, QB, Texas (6-43/8, 233): Had scouts whispering late in the season that he could rocket up draft boards if he entered as a junior, then became a sensation with his outstanding performance in carrying Texas over USC in the national championship game. A huge man with outstanding speed who completed 65.2 percent of his passes and threw 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Also rushed for 1,050 yards. Some scouts are concerned about his low throwing delivery and that his propensity to break the pocket and run will lead to injuries. Others consider him an untapped talent who in a few years could be one of the game’s elite players if an offense is adjusted for his athletic talent and ability to make throws and run on the edge. Has leadership skills, and many scouts consider him a better prospect than Michael Vick. “He’s further along right now just in that he understands touch and finesse in the passing game,” one scout said. “Vick has no clue, Vick’s just a thrower. This guy is a more of a quarterback that understands taking something off the ball. Vick is quicker, Vick is going to be faster, but this is a much bigger human being.”

4. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia (6-6, 297): The best offensive lineman in the draft, a four-year starter who has the long arms and athletic ability of a prototypical left tackle. Dominated in the Senior Bowl and has graduated from college. “He’s not a power tackle. He’s a left tackle through and through,” one scout said. “He’s got some length to him, he’s got really good feet, he can bend. He’s very athletic. But he’s 300 pounds, and he’s never going to be a 330-pound tough guy. He might be a 315-, (3)20-pound finesse tackle.”

5. Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State (6-7, 295): A junior who might be one of the two or three most-gifted players in this draft, and some scouts think he’s more talented coming out of college than Carolina’s Julius Peppers, the No. 2 pick in 2002 who’s become one of the dominant defensive linemen in the game. Didn’t play well early in the season but came on the second half and finished with 14½ sacks. Has a rare combination of size and speed, and could move into the top three or four picks with a jaw-dropping workout. Only thing that will bring him down is if background checks reveal red flags. Scouts and coaches marvel at his talent — “I think he’s going to be more instinctive than (Peppers),” one scout said — but some wonder if he’s too immature to live up to his ability. “Small-town guy, everything’s always been handed to him,” another said. “They took care of him in college, he’s never really had to overcome anything. Sounds a lot like (former North Carolina State receiver) Koren Robinson.”

6. Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt (6-27/8, 223 pounds): Has moved up draft boards because of his play in practice at the Senior Bowl, probably will be a top-10 pick. Some teams think he’s a better prospect than Leinart and Young, though most appear to consider him just behind those two. Has the gunslinger’s swagger and strong arm, as well as almost identical size, that draw some comparisons to Brett Favre. Four-year starter who didn’t have much talent around him but made his undermanned team competitive in the tough Southeastern Conference. As a senior, he completed 59.1 percent of his passes and threw 21 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. “His athleticism, he seems to have that kind of quality about him where he can throw a team on his back and do some things,” Billick said. “He clearly has the physical abilities.” Said a scout: “He’s raw as anything from the standpoint of understanding how to play the position. He’s always gotten by on just being a competitive guy that has a strong arm. I’m not saying he can’t be a good NFL quarterback, but there’s too many question marks to take him high, high. People can compare him to Favre all they want. It’s not fair. Brett overcame so much stuff, and he’s such a leader. People say that because (Cutler) is a gunslinger right now. But his mechanics are way behind.”

7. A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State (6-1 1/8, 243): Not an overwhelming talent, but a top player with size and speed. Has all the qualities — intelligence, instincts, strength, range — a team could look for in a middle linebacker short of Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. Led Ohio State in tackles (121), tackles for a loss (16½) and sacks (9½). “I like him a lot. It’s just where do you take a linebacker?” said one top personnel executive. “He’s not special but he’s a good football player. He’s a safe pick, because whoever takes him, he’s going to come in and start Year One.”

8. Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech (6-21/8, 216): A physical cornerback with prototypical size, plus 40-yard dash speed in the low 4.4s or even high 4.3s. Is the best player at a premium position. Has some ball-hawking skills, and intercepted eight passes in his career. Scouts will check his background closely, though, because of temperamental concerns. Was ejected from the Gator Bowl this year for bumping an official, and has been known to bark at coaches. “He’s really talented,” one scout said. “The whole key is to get inside his head and see what he’s wired like. There’s so many question marks about his football intelligence, why he got kicked out of a game, why did he argue with coaches, a bunch of things.” Said another scout: “In my opinion, he’s the third-most talented football player in the draft behind Bush and Mario Williams, just God-given talent. You can throw Vince Young in there.”

9. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon (6-4, 338): Junior who’s the top defensive tackle in the draft, a dominant run defender with great size as an anchor and good quickness. Had nine tackles for a loss and three sacks last season, and in his career blocked seven kicks. Blew out his knee in 2003 but came back strong the last two years. “You wonder how instinctive a football player he is,” one scout said. “Big, powerful, strong. You just don’t know if he understands football.”
10. Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland (6-3, 252): Texas safety Michael Huff and Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway are among the other prospects who could end up top-10 picks, as well. Davis, though, is a junior whose combination of size, running ability and hands makes him a rarity — a potential impact tight end. He’ll probably run the 40 in less than 4.5 seconds and averaged 17.1 yards on 51 receptions last season. Only thing he lacks is prototypical height. “I think he’s better than Kellen Winslow (Jr.),” one scout said, referring to the tight end Cleveland selected with the No. 6 pick overall in 2004. “This guy can block, too.”

A franchise-turning decision

2006-02-26T17:02:00.000-08:00

All first-round NFL draft picks are important, but when a team has a prime, top-five selection, it gets about as good a chance to land a franchise-turning player as it will see.

So when General Manager Ted Thompson makes his pick at No. 5 for the Green Bay Packers on April 29, his decision could be a major step toward the Packers returning to elite status. Or, if he misses on the pick and lands a salary-cap wrecking bust, he could be setting up the Packers for drafting that high a time or two more.

“If you can hit on a franchise player at a key position,” said Floyd Reese, the Tennessee Titans’ general manager, “you’re talking about someone who will be with the franchise for eight, 10, 12 years and win a ton of games for you.”

Recent NFL history, as well as the Packers’ history, however, shows that though the odds for landing a great player go up when selecting in the top five, it’s far from a guarantee a team will land one.

The Packers have picked five times in the top five since the common draft began in 1970 and failed to a stunning degree with those selections. All five players ranged from disappointments to colossal busts: defensive tackle Mike McCoy in 1970; defensive tackle Bruce Clark, who refused to play for the Packers, in 1980; halfback Brent Fullwood in 1987; tackle Tony Mandarich in 1989; and cornerback Terrell Buckley in 1992.

A look at recent NFL drafts paints a more accurate reflection of the odds for landing an outstanding player.

The 20 top-five picks in the drafts from 1999 through 2002 have produced 10 Pro Bowl players. On a more subjective level, they produced seven elite players (tackle Chris Samuels, halfback Jamal Lewis, quarterback Michael Vick, halfback LaDainian Tomlinson, defensive end Julius Peppers, quarterback Donovan McNabb and halfback Edgerrin James); five players who range from decent to good (linebacker LaVar Arrington, defensive end Justin Smith, quarterback David Carr, cornerback Quentin Jammer and halfback Ricky Williams); and eight busts (defensive end Courtney Brown, receiver Peter Warrick, tackle Leonard Davis, defensive tackle Gerard Warren, quarterback Joey Harrington, tackle Mike Williams, quarterback Tim Couch and quarterback Akili Smith.

“Picking as low or as high as we are, depending on which way you look at it, it’s a very important pick for the Packers,” Thompson said this week at the NFL scouting combine. “And we’re convinced at this point there’s going to be a great player, an impact kind of player, at that point. And it’s up to us to find that person and make sure we pick the right guy.”

USC halfback Reggie Bush, the probable No. 1 pick, is the one player virtually assured of not being available when the Packers make their pick. Three quarterbacks could be among the top four selections, and it’s highly likely USC’s Matt Leinart will be gone before the Packers pick, with Texas’ Vince Young also a good bet to go before No. 5. Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler is the other quarterback who could go in the top four.

Though teams’ draft boards will vary substantially even at the top of the first round and will change some before draft weekend in late April, the closest thing to a consensus is Bush, Leinart and Young are among the top six prospects, along with Virginia tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams and Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

=== Report: Colts, Wayne agree to six-year deal ===

2006-02-25T17:39:00.000-08:00

The Indianapolis Colts have taken care of one of their major offseason decisions, as the club has reportedly agreed to a six-year contract with wide receiver Reggie Wayne worth approximately $40 million. According to the Indianapolis Star, Wayne's agent David Dunn confirmed that the talented wideout agreed to the deal, which also includes a signing bonus close to $13.5 million, on Wednesday.

Wayne has emerged as one of the league's top wide receivers over the last two seasons. The former first-round pick had 77 receptions for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns during his breakthrough 2004 campaign, then led Indianapolis with a career-best 83 catches for 1,055 yards this past year.

In five NFL seasons, all with the Colts, Wayne has compiled 304 catches for 4,164 yards and 28 scores. Wayne's retainment also likely signals the end of Edgerrin James' tenure with the Colts. Indianapolis has until Thursday to decide whether to designate the All-Pro running back as its franchise player for the second straight year, a move that now appears impossible.

Slapping James with the franchise tag would give him a 2006 salary of almost $11 million and put the Colts well over the cap, meaning the club would have to release several players to keep him. If James is unable to come to terms with Indianapolis by March 3, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Young unfazed by passing questions

2006-02-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

The only person who doesn't seem perplexed about where Vince Young should be selected in the draft is Vince Young.

Should the former Texas quarterback be the top overall pick? Should he be the No. 2 choice? No. 3? Is there a chance he actually could take a fall out of the top 10?

I won't go as far as to say that Young is indifferent about his draft status. He certainly cares plenty about where he will be chosen because the difference is measured in millions of dollars. No player could honestly say, with a straight face, that it doesn't matter if he is taken first, because it always matters.

It's just that Young isn't fretting about whether he has the arm to match the feet that have done the most to make him a potential top-three pick. Unlike the rest of us, he doesn't see an issue with his throwing motion, which can be best described as sidearm style. Furthermore, he insists that, based on what he has learned while being at the Scouting Combine, NFL teams aren't worried about it, either.

Sitting down with some of the coaches now, hearing the different things they've been saying about my throwing motion, is that there's nothing really wrong with it," Young said. "The media, that's who keeps talking about the throwing motion. There's nothing wrong with the throwing motion."
Certainly, the manner in which he delivers the ball didn't hurt him in the Rose Bowl, which, up to now, is the defining moment of Young's football life. He threw for 267 yards and ran for 200 more, including the winning touchdown, to lead the Longhorns past USC and to the national championship.

Everything changed that night.

All of a sudden, the automatic presumption that Trojans running back Reggie Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner, would be the top choice wasn't so automatic. All of a sudden, the automatic presumption that the other Rose Bowl quarterback, Matt Leinart, was the top quarterback in the draft wasn't so automatic, either.

Young displayed talent so rare, a lot of football observers began to conclude that he might very well have no peers among the rest of the players at his position or in the 2006 college crop in general. He is big (6-foot-5 and 229 pounds) and strong, yet can run as well as many halfbacks -- and probably better than many others.

"That guy is a freaky runner," Leinart said. He meant it as a compliment.

But compliments for the way Young throws the ball haven't come as readily. When you look at scouting assessments of his college career you see terms like: "shows only an adequate arm … must develop better mechanics … sidearm delivery might lead to batted-down passes in the NFL."

Young treats the comments like the enormous pressure that he faced in leading the Longhorns to their winning score in the Rose Bowl. He is unfazed by them. He is so unfazed, it seems, that he isn't even bothering to take part in throwing drills here. He will throw for NFL team representatives at the Longhorns' Pro Day on March 22 on the Texas campus.

It does not look like a case of Young being in denial. The kid truly believes in himself and in what he has done up to this point to be a highly regarded NFL prospect.

Still, it is legitimate to think that some of the throws he has been able to make at the collegiate level won't work in the NFL. Sidearm passes do tend to travel lower. And, working from shotgun formation as he did for most of his time with the Longhorns, he is going to require some training in how to work from under center. He might need basic training than other quarterbacks in taking a snap at the line, dropping back, setting up to throw, or pivoting and making handoffs.
As a run-oriented quarterback, Young also struggles at times with showing enough patience in the pocket and reading coverages.

Of course, all of the flaws, including his throwing motion, are correctable. The right coaching will help, but the way Young sees it, the onus is mostly on him to develop into a successful NFL player.

"It depends on myself," he said. "How much you don't see behind the scenes -- watching film and how much work and how much effort I put into wanting to better myself on the next level. It's all on myself."

The question is, does a team want to invest a top-three pick in a player who requires what could end up being a prolonged learning process in a league where there is so much emphasis on instant results? Maybe so. Plenty of teams have done it before.

But if it came down to choosing between Young and a more polished Leinart, who has extensive background in a pro-style environment at USC, it would stand to reason that a team might go with Leinart.

That's where the guesswork comes in. The Houston Texans, who own the top overall pick, might want to take Young, who would be a popular local choice. However, the Texans don't figure to be in the market for a quarterback because they recently gave a lucrative contract extension to David Carr. Therefore, it is widely assumed they will select Bush.

But perhaps the New Orleans Saints or Tennessee Titans, who pick second and third, respectively, and who each would like to land a quarterback, will make a trade with the Texans to move to the top and select Young or Leinart.

Someone asked Young whether he felt as if he were trying to move ahead of Bush for the No. 1 pick.

"No, not really," he said. "If he's the No. 1 pick, he's the No. 1 pick. All I know is I just want to play football. Whatever team picks you, picks you.

"You still got to go out and play and perform. You still got to do different things to better yourself and your teammates and (earn) respect of your teammates. (Bush) has to do it the same way."

That's a sound, rational approach by quarterback whose extraordinary blend of skills and top-three draft potential have caused a great deal of commotion among the rest of us.

Jets and Martin Reach Agreement to a Restructured Contract

2006-02-25T17:25:00.000-08:00

The New York Jets and running back Curtis Martin, the NFL’s fourth-ranked all-time leading rusher, have mutually agreed today to a restructured contract. As per Club policy terms and length of the contract were undisclosed. The announcement was made by Jets’ General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Jets Waive Six including Fabini, Fiedler & Sowell, Agree Not to Exercise Law’s Contract Option
Martin, who will be entering his 12th NFL season and his ninth with the Jets, is the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history with 14,101 yards on 3,518 carries. The former University of Pittsburgh star joined the team as a restricted free agent in March of 1998. With the Jets, Martin has established Club-records in nearly every rushing category, including: rushing yards (10,302), rushing attempts (2,560), rushing touchdowns (58), 100-yard rushing games (43), and yards from scrimmage (12,741).

"Curtis Martin is a special person and a player destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame," said Tannenbaum. "He has confirmed through his actions that he is always seeking ways to help the New York Jets win football games and to lead the team both verbally and through his extremely high level of play. Curtis places the accomplishments of the team ahead of his personal goals and is willing to sacrifice in all areas of the arena for the New York Jets. He has set aside what may be in his best short-term interest for the immediate and long-term goals of this organization. We are truly fortunate to have Curtis as one of the unquestioned leaders of the organization on the football field and in our community."

"I have known Curtis Martin for the past eight years and have always had the highest regards for him as both an individual and as one of the fiercest and most determined athletes in the game of professional football," said Head Coach Eric Mangini. "Curtis has demonstrated through both his words and his actions how important it is for him to lead the Jets to the highest level in this game. He is a smart, tough, competitive and a hard-working player that has placed football paramount amongst his priorities in life. His actions, through the agreement we reached today, demonstrate what a selfless individual he truly he is."

In 2005 Martin started the first 12 games of the season before a knee injury forced him to the injured reserve list for the final four contests. He led the team in rushing with 735 yards on 220 carries and a tied for the team high in touchdowns with five. He also added 118 yards receiving on 24 receptions, the fifth-most on the team.

Martin had a streak of 119 consecutive regular-season games started for the Jets at the time he was forced to the injured reserve list, the longest streak ever by a running back in Jets’ team history. In addition, Martin started two playoffs games in 1998, one in 2001, two in 2002 and two in 2004, which brought his streak of consecutive starts in combined regular and postseason play to 126 contests. Over the course of his career, Martin has played in 168 regular season games, making 166 starts, and has missed only four games over the course of his career. Martin, with 10 career postseason games played and started, has accumulated 795 yards on 182 carries for a 4.4 average and eight rushing touchdowns, while adding 305 yards and 37 receptions for an 8.2 average.

"I have never been afraid to take a chance on myself," said Martin. "Since I started playing this game I have been taught and learned that this game is a team game and there are a lot of things more important than money. I believe I have always been a person that enjoys meeting challenges head-first. I believe in the New York Jets and the leadership team that we have in place. Mr. Johnson and the New York Jets have been very good to me throughout my career and they have stood behind me and I am sincerely appreciative for the opportunity to play here. Going in to the off-season, I knew there was a chance that we may talk about a restructuring of my contract, and rather than have it be an acrimonious situation, I wanted to resolve the matter quietly and never felt like it had to become an ugly situation. This was not a hard decision because of the belief I have in the leadership of this team and my teammates, and that I have in myself.

I have already begun to prepare for the 2006 season and am anxious to get the bad taste that the season left me with. I feel that it is important to put the goals of the team ahead of individual goals, and I have restructured my contract to allow us the opportunity to be more competitive as we move forward. I feel like my injury let our team down because I wasn’t able to finish the season and my intention is to help get this team to the highest level. It’s a challenge and one I readily accept. I have a chip on my shoulder because last season was not what we wanted. I am looking forward to coming back stronger and healthier in 2006 and am thrilled that it is with the New York Jets."

Eslinger hopes for shot at NFL

2006-02-24T05:12:00.000-08:00

Greg Eslinger has the NCAA hardware, but he said he feels like he did coming out of high school in Bismarck, N.D., in 2002.

A North Dakota player of the year, Eslinger was lightly recruited, but he started all 50 games at the University of Minnesota, capping his career with two prestigious awards. He won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top interior lineman, and the Dave Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's best center.

But those accolades didn't earn him a trip to the Senior Bowl, one of college football's postseason all-star games.

"I think that was the best thing that could happen to me, because I had a chip on my shoulder and I wanted to prove to myself that I could play Division I college football," Eslinger said of not being recruited much in high school. "This is the same situation. Some teams may have me more under the radar, so I think that's going to help motivate me in the offseason."

Eslinger, in Indianapolis to perform for pro scouts in the NFL combine, said he wasn't surprised and didn't hold any grudges for not being invited to the showcase game for collegiate seniors.
"I definitely wanted to play in the Senior Bowl. Obviously, I want to play with the best and compete with the best," he said. "But I just didn't pull the right cards, I guess, and what's done is done. I'm looking forward right now."

Eslinger has been projected as a mid- to late-round pick. He doesn't care where he's selected as long as he gets a chance to play for an NFL team.

"I just want to play football,'' he said. "That's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid."
Up to this point, Eslinger couldn't have dreamed for any more.

"Coming to the University of Minnesota, I had hoped to maybe start by my fourth, maybe my fifth year. I never expected to walk in there and start as a true freshman. So it's been a wild ride," he said. "I don't think it's truly all set in yet."

Given his experience and quickness, Eslinger said NFL teams that run zone-blocking schemes might be more inclined to draft him.

"I came from a zone offense, so I definitely think they may look me over more than the next guy, just because of our offense," he said.

Eslinger is gearing up for the many intense interviews club officials and coaches will subject him to. The strangest question so far:

"If your house was on fire, and your family is OK, what is the next thing you'd take? I just said photos."

Williams tagged: The Vikings did not place a franchise tag on cornerback Brian Williams. But Williams' agent, Jordan Feagan, was not pleased that the Vikings placed a transition tender on his client.

"I'm not bad-mouthing the Vikings. But flat out, he does not want to go back to the Vikings," Feagan said. "He's ready to move on. He would rather they had not placed the transition tag on him. But I don't think that, at the end of the day, that will be a problem, because he'll receive an offer elsewhere that (the Vikings) won't match."

Feagan said the Vikings haven't approached him about a long-term contract.
In the unlikely event Williams doesn't get any offers, the Vikings would pay him $4.774 million, the average of the top 10 cornerbacks' salaries, next season.

Williams is expected to command a signing bonus in excess of $10 million and an annual average salary of at least $5 million.

Getting acclimated: Former Vikings offensive coordinator Steve Loney said he is adjusting well to the Arizona Cardinals, where he is the offensive line coach.

"It's been an easy move because my wife already has friends down there, and my son is down there," Loney said. "You don't have to get a map to find your way around. So a lot of things have been good."

Briefly: UCLA running back Maurice Drew credited new Vikings running backs coach Eric Bienemy for being a positive influence on his development.
Sean Jensen can be reached at sjensen@pioneerpress.com.

Seahawks' transition tag goes to Hutchinson

2006-02-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

The NFC champion Seattle Seahawks designated All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson as the team's transition player Thursday after the sides were unable to reach a long-term contract.
Hutchinson will receive a one-year contract for the average salary of the top-10 offensive linemen from the 2005 season, $6.39 million. Hutchinson can receive offers from other teams once free agency begins March 3, but Seattle has the right of first refusal on any offers.

Seattle has until March 17 to reach a long-term contract with Hutchinson, or must wait until July to begin negotiations again. Calls to Hutchinson's agent, Tom Condon, were not immediately returned.

This season, Hutchinson and tackle Walter Jones led a Seahawks rushing attack that was second in the league in total offense and third in rushing offense, blocking for NFL rushing leader Shaun Alexander.

Buffalo: Offensive lineman Mike Williams was released, ending a four-year tenure for the former No. 4 draft pick. The move allows the Bills to save more than $3 million in salary cap space for next season.

Carolina: The Panthers protected running back DeShaun Foster from free agency by naming him their transition player. Foster is now guaranteed $5.13 million next season if he doesn't sign a long-term contract.

Minnesota: The Vikings named cornerback Brian Williams their transition player. By league rules, the club must tender Williams a one-year qualifying offer at the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position or 120% of his 2005 salary -- whichever is greater. The figure for a cornerback this season is $4.774 million.

Oakland: The Raiders declined to use the franchise tag on cornerback Charles Woodson (Michigan) for a third straight season, making the Heisman Trophy winner an unrestricted free agent next month.

San Francisco: The 49ers decided to let Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson (MSU) become an unrestricted free agent by not making him their franchise player. The 49ers also released ex-Lions receiver Johnnie Morton.

Letter To The Fans

2006-02-21T03:15:00.000-08:00

I know how passionate the Jets fans are. I have been there with them and I played against them.I am a lot happier being here with them."- New York Jets Head Coach Eric Mangini
This week marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the history of your Jets. Like you, our entire organization was deeply disappointed by our performance on the field this season, but we are already working hard to ensure that we return to playoff contender level and ultimately win an NFL championship.

As you have no doubt heard, we are pleased to have Eric Mangini as our new head coach, formerly the New England Patriots’ highly regarded defensive coordinator. We spent more than 50 hours over eight days interviewing eight quality candidates, three of them in-house. Eric is no stranger to the Jets and certainly no stranger to the AFC East. In six seasons with the Patriots he has made significant contributions to three Super Bowl teams, he’s been exposed to some of the best coaches in pro football history and his attention to detail has earned him the respect of his players and fellow staff members.

Young, full of energy, and fiercely passionate about the intricacies of football, Eric brings with him a positive vision, a thirst for success and a work ethic that will make all of us proud.
The introduction of Coach Mangini marks the first in a series of steps that we will take during the off-season to address our strengths and weaknesses. In the coming weeks, Coach Mangini will meet with our coaches, players and scouting staff in preparation for the early off season training.

But if there is one thing that Coach Mangini already knows about our team it is that we have the greatest fans in the league. It is the loyalty, passion and unwavering commitment of our fans that is the backbone of our franchise. Although we had a lackluster season due to an unprecedented number of injuries, we have made the playoffs for three of the past five seasons and with your continued support we won’t just make the playoffs, but win a championship!
Off the field, our new stadium joint venture with the New York Giants is proceeding on schedule and we will be testing new concepts with you over the coming months to make sure that the Jets new home more than meets your expectations.

Finally, in order to better communicate with you, our fans, we have embarked on two exciting new ventures. First, in addition to our partnership with WCBS which will continue to air our award winning shows 24/7 and Generation Jets, we have partnered with the new regional sports channel, SportsNet NY, to form the official television home of the Mets and the Jets. SNY will begin to air in March and will feature new fan programming including Jets Nation and Jets Playbook. SNY will also have extensive draft, training camp and preseason coverage along with pre and post game programming throughout the season. Second, we have embarked on an ambitious multi-year makeover of our website to ensure that we can offer all Jets, all the time over the complete range of 21st century media outlets.

We are busier and more excited than ever and hope you are too.
On behalf of all of us at the Jets, thank you again for being a part of the Jets community.

Cutler's stock on rise as NFL evaluates draft

2006-02-19T04:06:00.000-08:00

A pair of Big Ten programs considered recruiting Jay Cutler four years ago, then dismissed him. The assessment from Illinois and Indiana: not good enough.

Now, the NFL is giving the former Heritage Hills High School and Vanderbilt quarterback a long look. The preliminary outlook: plenty good enough.

"He's got the skills to be one heck of an NFL quarterback,'' said ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.

When the NFL Scouting Combine returns to Indianapolis this week, much of the attention regarding quarterback prospects will focus on USC's Matt Leinart and Texas' Vince Young. No one will be surprised if they join USC running back Reggie Bush as the first three picks in the April 29 draft.

Cutler? He's a poster boy for persistence.After leading Heritage Hills (Lincoln City) to the 2000 Class 3A Indiana title, Cutler was spurned by then-IU coach Cam Cameron."He didn't think Jay could play at IU,'' Bob Clayton, Heritage Hills' coach for nearly three decades, said, his disgust over the snub still apparent.

Cutler thought he had a scholarship lined up with Illinois. The Illini, though, had second thoughts."Yeah,'' Cutler said in a telephone interview from Nashville, Tenn., "they pretty much told me, 'We don't have a scholarship for you. We're going in a different direction.'"You don't see that very often.''About the time Cutler believed his pursuit of a spot with a Division I program had ended, Vanderbilt called.

"Out of the blue,'' he said.Four years later, Cutler's dream of not only reaching the NFL, but being a first-round draft pick, is within reach.Kiper's latest mock draft has Leinart going No. 2 overall to New Orleans, and Tennessee using the third overall pick on Young. He has Cutler slotted No. 9, to Detroit. Scouts Inc., a scouting service, projects Cutler going to Arizona with the 10th overall selection.

"I think I've put myself in a really good position to go in the middle or the top half of the first round,'' Cutler said. "If I go lower, that's fine, too. I just want to play ball somewhere.''That mind-set enabled him to make the best of what appeared to be a bad situation after Illinois turned its back on him.

"His development at Vanderbilt has been phenomenal,'' Clayton said.The Commodores remained a Southeastern Conference doormat during Cutler's four-year stint. They won only 11 of 46 games, and were 5-27 in the SEC.Unable to lift the team collectively, Cutler elevated his own game.

He set school career marks for total offense (9,953 yards), touchdown passes (59), passing yards (8,697), attempts (1,242) and completions (710).As a senior, Cutler completed 273-of-462 passes for 3,073 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He was at his best in his final three games against Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee, passing for 1,061 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions. In his final game, he led Vanderbilt to a 28-24 upset of the Volunteers in Knoxville by passing for 315 yards and three touchdowns.Imagine, Kiper said, what Cutler could have accomplished had he been surrounded by better talent.

Of the 330 players invited to the combine, Cutler is Vanderbilt's only representative. Tennessee has seven players involved in the NFL's evaluation process. USC has 14.The factors that enhance Cutler's draft stock are his size ---- 6-4, 230 pounds -- and physical tools. He has a strong arm and more than adequate mobility.

Along with passing for 8,697 yards and 59 touchdowns, he ran for 1,256 yards and 17 TDs.Cutler also was just the second player in school history to serve as team captain for three seasons.All that remains is for Cutler to impress the NFL scouts, reinforce his pre-draft stock and surpass Ken Dilger as Heritage Hills' highest draft pick.

The Colts selected Dilger, a standout quarterback who switched to tight end after going to Illinois, in the second round of the 1995 draft (No. 48 overall).Leinart and Young reportedly won't throw with the other quarterbacks at the combine. Cutler will."All of the pro scouts and coaches are going to be there,'' Cutler said. "Why not go out and show what you've got?"
Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830.

Position Analysis: Offensive Line

2006-02-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

The offensive line was one of the top priorities during the 2005 off-season for the Carolina Panthers. A solid front in 2003 had been one of the keys to their successful season, but they entered 2004 with three new starters and four starters new to their positions. Thus, the keyword entering 2005 was stability.

Guard Mike Wahle made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his first season with the Panthers. (AP Photo) In that vein, Carolina signed free agent guard Mike Wahle. They moved second year guard Travelle Wharton to his college, left tackle, inserted Wahle at left guard, kept veteran Jeff Mitchell at center, moved Jordan Gross back to right tackle (after one season at left tackle) and started Tutan Reyes at right guard.

All five players started all 16 games, a first in the franchise's 11-year history. This stability led to the unit surrendering just 28 sacks, the second fewest in team history, and allowed the offense to gain momentum as the season progressed. I wasn't surprising that their best performances came late in the season, during a 44-11 victory at Atlanta that clinched a playoff spot, a 23-0 NFC Wildcard playoff victory over the New York Giants, and a 29-21 NFC Divisional playoff victory over Chicago and the Bears second-ranked defense.

The key to the whole strategy was Wahle. The Panthers felt that Wharton would take his lumps at tackle playing against some of the best defensive ends in the League, but having Wahle next to him would serve as a safety net of sorts. They didn't sign Wahle just for his mentoring abilities, though. He also brought a considerable amount of skills to the table.

"Mike Wahle went to the Pro Bowl, so it was obviously a good fit for him," said Maser. "Mike did some good things for us. It was a period of adjustment for him getting used to the offense, the other guys, and me. All of those types of things that go into a new relationship. But I thought he got through it well.

"I'm looking for great things from Mike next year as far as continued performance. I thought Mike being there was very beneficial for Travelle. Mike was a steadying influence. He's a real student of the game who really pays attention to a lot of small things, which I think helped Travelle out in the long run. Travelle's got a good work ethic. Having a guy next to him is extra diligent about the little things makes a big difference. I think that will help him in the long run as well."

The Panthers trusted tackle Travelle Wharton with guarding Jake Delhomme's backside. (Getty Images) A third-round draft choice from South Carolina, Wharton's ability to play the all-important left tackle position was a sink-or-swim gamble that the coaching staff felt was worth the risk. Looking back, one would have to say that it worked out fine.

"Travelle had a good season, I thought," said offensive line coach Mike Maser. "Maybe it wasn't a Pro Bowl season, but I thought he did a capable job for us. I thought he held up well under the circumstances and got a year under his belt from a learning standpoint. I think that's going to help him out in the long run. Travelle has a lot of ability. He just has to learn to play with a little bit more aggressiveness. He needs to play a little bit more nasty. We kind of answered a question, though, with him playing that position."

Manning the center position was Mitchell. The nine-year veteran once again provided a refuge for his fellow offensive linemen in training camp by bringing his recreational vehicle to Wofford College. It was a move symbolic of his leadership abilities, as Mitchell drove the bus, so to speak, by making calls at the line based on defense recognition.

"Jeff played the whole year and did a nice job for us," said Maser. "He was very capable. He directed traffic well and did a good job of getting everybody going in the right direction. Jeff handled himself well and we were very pleased with his performance."
Reyes provided a veteran presence at right guard. Even though he only had 12 starts under his belt when the season began, he was very familiar with the system and overcame some nagging injuries to provide another rock steady player on the front line.

"Tutan did a good job," said Maser. "Very steady. He held up. He played every game. He didn't get as much practice time as we would have liked him to have because of (nagging injuries), so the younger guys got a lot of work, which was good. Both (Geoff) Hangartner and (Evan) Mathis developed and played some different positions because of that situation. I think that's going to benefit us in the long run as far as getting those guys ready to perform."

At right tackle, Gross picked up where he left off in 2003. The move back to the position where he earned All-Rookie honors seemed to be a beneficial one for the third-year player from Utah.
"Jordan Gross was very steady," Maser said. "His move back to right tackle was not a problem. He picked it up very well. He got back into the framework of things and I was very happy with his performance all year long. I felt like he was a steady guy. He's definitely got things going in the right direction and I'm hoping for better things from him in the future."

As for depth, aside from Hangartner and Mathis, the main man off the bench was veteran Todd Fordham. A versatile player, Fordham's value to the team shone through in several ways.

"Todd has always been an excellent depth guy for me," said Maser, who coached Fordham in Jacksonville previously. "I've known Todd forever. He's kind of like a security blanket in that he can play any one of the positions along the line and fill in at a moment's notice. The great thing about him is his mentoring ability with the younger players. Bringing those guys along and spending time with them, talking to them about different aspects of what to look for."

The race is on, but not everyone gets it!

2006-02-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

The draft evaluation process is under way, and there are so many twists and turns on the journey to the end of April in New York City that it is impossible to predict which eight players are going to hear their names announced as the top eight picks.

I drew a line at the eighth pick for a number of reasons at this point in the process. As one GM said to me this week, I think there will be eight solid players at the top of this draft. A second reason to split the draft at that point is money. After looking at the rookie contracts from 2004, a few things were clear about the drop in value after the eighth pick. Draft picks No. 1 thru 8 averaged 50 percent of the rookie pool. The rest of the first-round contracts averaged about 30 percent of the rookie pool. DeAngelo Hall was the eighth pick, he consumed 44 percent of the rookie pool, and his deal averaged $2.6 million. The next pick in the draft at No. 9 was Reggie Williams. His deal used up 33.8 percent of the rookie pool and averaged $2.09 million for the same six years. So, getting to the top eight is a significant place to be, and of course the higher the better.

But as I said, twists and turns on the journey have already started. Here's a look at where the future rookies are in their big race for the top. I'll check back in from time to time this spring and keep you posted.

When the race started, there were no juniors on the starting line, just seniors. NFL scouts were sending information back to their team headquarters, and the following eight players were running up front, according to the scouts I spoke with in the fall: QB Matt Leinart, OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LB A.J. Hawk, S Michael Huff, CB Jimmy Williams, RB DeAngelo Williams, DT Claude Wroten and OT Marcus McNeil.

Then came the announcements about underclassmen entering the draft race, and even though they got a late start, some of them raced up into the top eight right away. Enter RB Reggie Bush, QB Vince Young, DT Haloti Ngata, DE Mario Williams and a few others close to the top group, and the race was really on.

The Senior Bowl strengthened a few seniors like Ferguson and DeAngelo Williams from their performances at practice and caused the same effect that Cadillac Williams created last year when he elected to go to Mobile. Also, QB Jay Cutler entered the fray with a big jump in the eyes of a few teams. Quarterbacks can always make a significant move in a race for the top of the draft. Keep in mind that with every new name entering the elite eight, someone has to drop back. So a race that started with eight seniors back in November at this point has thirteen men in it as we head to the Combine next week.

I am not going to sit here and say if an athlete decides not to participate at the Combine he is sure to drop out of the top eight prospects, but for juniors who entered this process late, have less college playing experience, did not play in the Senior Bowl and elected to not participate in the drills and testing in Indianapolis, they aren't helping themselves -- unless of course they have something to hide. Last year, junior RB Ronnie Brown participated in everything and finished the race in New York as the second overall pick. The year before, OT Robert Gallery did everything he was asked to do and heard his name called second in the draft.

When I hear a potential top-eight selection say he will probably not participate because of unfamiliar surroundings and that he has to do some two-man drills with players he's not used to working with, a yellow caution flag goes up. My first question is: Who is this guy listening to for his advice? It's a race, and there are thirteen players at this point in the front pack. By the end of the combine, I guarantee there will be a few more in the pack. It happens every year when some corner or wide receiver pops a 4.3 forty time. Two years ago, two wide receivers and a corner made it to the top eight in New York. Last year, two wide receivers and two corners finished strong enough to get selected by the eighth pick. I'm sure there were a number of receivers who didn't see WR Troy Williamson coming until he passed them at the draft last year.
A word of caution to those who don't understand: They are in a race, and the Combine is a dangerous curve. I only mentioned one CB in this group of thirteen, Jimmy Williams from Virginia Tech. When March 1 comes and we understand the results from Indianapolis, the lead group will have grown to 15.

Finally, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and D'Brickashaw Ferguson are not going to slip out of the top eight picks unless they have a major injury over the next few months, but after that, I haven't seen a sure thing in this race. So now, the reality is there will be close to 12 players looking at the remaining five spots. Any player who doesn't make a move at the Combine can't be considered in the lead. My advice to the players mentioned in this article is: Compete every chance you can between now and New York. Oh! Did I mention a few running backs could also quickly move up to the front of this race, and another defensive end may run a 4.5 forty and a 3.9 short shuttle next week, swelling the group to 18 players? This is no time to try and save gas!

Steelers sign 19

2006-02-17T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Pittsburgh Steelers added 19 first and second-year free agents to their roster and allocated 12 of the players to play in the NFL Europe League.

The players added are: center Kyle Andrews, punter Mike Barr, offensive lineman Ulish Booker, quarterback Shane Boyd, offensive lineman Tim Brown, linebacker Matt Farrior, wide receiver Adam Herzing, running back Mike Jemison, tight end Erik Jensen, fullback John Kuhn, center Brandon Newton, linebacker Malcolm Postell, quarterback Rod Rutherford, linebacker Richard Seigler, linebacker Ronald Stanley, running back Fred Staton, offensive lineman Brandon Torrey, wide receiver Isaac West and wide receiver Walter Young.

All players except Booker, Brown, Jensen, Kuhn, Rutherford, Seigler and Stanley will be allocated to NFL Europe.

Booker, Brown, Jensen, Kuhn, Rutherford, Seigler, Stanley and Young each spent part or all of the 2005 season on the Steelers’ practice squad. Practice-squad players automatically become free agents immediately following the end of a team’s season.

Barr, Booker and Stanley were in training camp with the Steelers in 2005 but were released prior to the regular season. Booker was resigned to the practice squad in November of this past year and Stanley was added last month during the AFC Playoffs.

Young spent the last two seasons on the Steelers’ practice squad, while Brown, Kuhn, Jensen, Rutherford and Seigler were signed throughout this season to the practice squad during the season.

Rutherford, a native of Pittsburgh who played at Pitt, was placed on the practice squad Reserve/Injured List last month. Jemison played at Pitt before transferring to Indiana (Pa.), while Postell also attended Pitt.

Following is a list of the Steelers’ recent free-agent signings:

Player Pos. Ht. Wt. NFL Exp. College
Kyle Andrews* C 5-11, 254 1 Ohio State
Mike Barr* P 6-2, 230 2 Rutgers
Ulish Booker OT 6-6, 319 2 Michigan State
Shane Boyd* QB 6-1, 232 1 Kentucky
Tim Brown OT 6-5, 313 1 West Virginia
Matt Farrior* ILB 6-1, 230 1 Florida
Adam Herzing* WR 6-3, 190 1 Cal-Poly
Mike Jemison* RB 5-11, 216 1 Indiana (Pa.)
Erik Jensen TE 6-2, 253 1 Iowa
John Kuhn FB 6-0, 255 1 Shippensburg
Brandon Newton* C 6-2, 296 1 Hofstra
Malcolm Postell* LB 6-1, 231 1 Pitt
Rod Rutherford QB 6-2, 223 2 Pitt
Richard Seigler LB 6-2, 238 2 Oregon State
Ronald Stanley LB 6-0, 244 1 Michigan State
Fred Staton* RB 5-10, 251 1 Tusculum
Brandon Torrey* OT 6-3, 277 1 Howard
Isaac West* WR 6-0, 187 1 Furman
Walter Young* WR 6-4, 220 3 Illinois
*Allocated to NFL Europe

Official Steelers Super Bowl Book Will Make Fans Feel "Super Again!"

2006-02-17T16:52:00.000-08:00

Steelers fans can relive one of the most exciting seasons in team history through the pages of the official Super Bowl book of the Pittsburgh Steelers, "Super Again!"

In 2005, the Steelers became the first team in NFL history to win nine road games, including an unprecedented postseason run to become the first sixth seed to win the Super Bowl.

"Super Again!" will enable fans to recapture the excitement that began with running back Willie Parker's record-setting 161-yard rushing effort in Week 1 through the team's 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

The gorgeous 108-page full-color book is the only book published by the Steelers about their magical 2005 season. The book will feature photos and inside stories that will not be found anywhere else.

Among the many features will be a special foreword written by Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney, and stories and photos that take you from training camp through Super Bowl XL. The book will also feature a special tribute section to Jerome Bettis and a thank you section to Steelers fans.

"Super Again!" will be available in early April, but orders are being taken now. The book is being offered in both a softbound and hardbound version.

A $5 discount is being offered off the cover price for both versions for a limited time only. Fans who order now can purchase the softbound version of "Super Again!" for only $14.95 ($19.95 retail) and the hardbound version for only $24.95 ($29.95 retail). Hurry! Don't miss out on this special offer!

Credit card orders for "Super Again!" can be placed by calling 1-800-334-4005 or by emailing orders@curtispub.net. Steelers fans can also look for the coupon in our ad in Steelers Digest or on the team's official website www.steelers.com. Coupons should be mailed to Curtis Publishing,
P.O. Box 526600, Miami, FL 33152
or submitted via fax to 305-477-1346.

Fans welcome home World Champion Steelers

2006-02-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

Pittsburgh was a sea of black and gold on Tuesday as the City welcomed the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers home.

Crowds packed the streets from Mellon Arena all the way to Point Park, waving their Terrible Towels and chanting Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go, the entire way along the route.
A reviewing stand was set up near the Hilton Hotel, where head coach Bill Cowher and players such as Jerome Bettis, Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Joey Porter and more addressed the crowd.

"We set out a along time ago to bring this home to Pittsburgh and you believed in us, that we could get it done," said Bettis. "This is for all of you, every one of you. I am so happy with everything this city has given to me. I am happy we are able to give this one for the thumb to you."

Porter got the crowd engaged in the chant of "Who Ride, We Ride," while all of those who spoke thanked the Steelers fans for their incredible support and believing in them all season.
"We wanted to win for you guys," Ward told the crowd. "This championship is for you guys."
Along the parade route players interacted with the fans, shaking hands and sharing high fives. Safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker James Harrison joined the crowd as both jumped out of the truck they were riding in and body surfed in the crowd.

Bettis was the last player in the parade and came carrying the Lombardi Trophy. The crowd got so tight around Bettis' car near the end of the parade that he had to get out and walk the last portion of it, but he didn't seem to mind at all.

"I want to thank you for all of the memories you have given me and the way that you have taken me in," said Bettis to the crowd.

New look Seahawks pass first test

2006-02-17T02:19:00.000-08:00

Though some might have forgotten, Shonquilla Hudson was once a prolific scorer for Myrtle Beach High School.

Monday night, the senior guard offered a flashback to her play as a freshman and sophomore, scoring 16 points to help the Seahawks beat Airport 55-42 in the first round of the Class AAA state tournament.

Hudson's scoring - which tied Anastasia Wilson for team honors - was a much-needed offensive lift after Ashley Clarke, the Seahawks leading scorer throughout the regular season, was dismissed from the team last week.

Hudson, who is 25 points away from becoming the fourth Seahawk to score 1,000 points under coach Mickey Hunter, has been asked to become an offensive threat again after giving up her shots to Clarke and others the past two seasons.

"She had accepted her role; she has been our best perimeter defender," Hunter said. "[But] I've been telling her for the last week we need a little more offensive production."
If the Seahawks (23-3) are to make a run to a Class AAA title - they were ranked No. 1 in The State's AAA basketball poll before the loss of Clarke - they will need to find a way to make up the 19 points per game Clarke scored.

"[Hunter] wants me to shoot a lot more," Hudson said. "... I had been telling [younger players] to shoot ... Now I have to become more of a leader than before."

Hudson is not the only Seahawk who has had to adapt to a new role. With Clarke gone, Jasmine Jones has had to take over at the critical point guard position.

"I'm used to playing point guard," Jones said. "In practice, me and [Clarke] would go against each other all of the time."

Jones has the talent to do the job. She was named as the co-Region VII-AAA Player of the Year along with Georgetown's Jasmin Coleman.

She displayed lead-guard talent in the third quarter, threading a half-court bounce pass between Airport defenders to Wilson for a layup that gave Myrtle Beach a 36-32 lead.

Jones gave a fist pump and Myrtle Beach played with similar confidence the rest of the way. After the Jones' pass, the Seahawks outscored Airport 22-10 to close the game.

Jones and Brianna Webb each finished the game with five assists - half of them were to Hudson, who was open for shots outside.

"We executed our offense very well," Hunter said. "We shared the ball well, everyone got a look."

Taking better shots is another way the Seahawks can try to make up for Clarke's loss. Hunter said they will not be routing teams by 20 or more points any longer.

"We came together and said we have to step up one more notch," Jones said. "... I think some might underrate us, but we know what we are."

AIRPORT (42) - Jarne Gleaton 4, Janna Echelberger 2, Devette Robinson 5, Kaeya Stephens 12, Shardae Washington 2, Delisa Colter 17.

MYRTLE BEACH (55) - Shonquilla Hudson 16, Anatasia Wilson 16, Jasmine Jones 9, Ashley Nichols 6, Brianna Webb 8.

Airport16 10 9 7-42

Myrtle Beach11 18 15 11-55

3-point goals: Airport 2 (Colter 2); Myrtle Beach 2 (Hudson 2). Fouled out: none Technical fouls: none.

Records: Airport 13-8, Myrtle Beach 23-3.

Seahawk fans: Get over it!

2006-02-16T17:38:00.000-08:00

Did you get the same e-mail I did? The photo that has Super Bowl referee Bill Leavy peering into the replay monitor, and he's wearing a shirt with black and yellow stripes?
Or the one that's my personal favorite: Bill Cowher is simultaneously screaming at an official and handing him a wad of $100 bills.

To answer your next question, yes, both photos were cleverly doctored.
I'm writing this against my better judgment, because it's been a whole week since the Super Bowl. Yet, I see the bonfire about the officiating still raging.

Allow me, the trusted voice of reason, to help hose it down.
It's over. Done. Move on. The beloved Seahawks (beloved, that is, until they finish 6-10) had a wonderful year. It's time to recognize it for what it is.

Still, too many hang on to the conspiracy theories: The refs lost it. The NFL wanted this for The Bus. Seattle? Isn't that way out near Ketchikan or Minsk or someplace?

The blaring is primarily about four calls, which we'll address here:
* Replays showed that Seattle receiver Darrell Jackson did push off on Chris Hope in the end zone. He was called for offensive interference. Does what Jackson did always warrant a penalty? No. But to me, Jackson gained an advantage because he stopped Hope's momentum toward him, which means Flag City.

* The first touchdown of the game came when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger rolled to his left on third down late in the first half. He appeared to come down just short of the goal line on a head-on hit with D.D. Lewis. The original call was a touchdown and Leavy didn't see enough incontrovertible evidence to overturn it. Fair enough. Can we all agree it was incredibly close? In fact, after looking at replays ad nauseum, it appeared to me that the tip of the ball barely brushed the plane of the goal line just before Roethlisberger fell to the turf. Sorry, kids.

* A holding call on Sean Locklear in the fourth quarter wiped out an 18-yard pass play from Matt Hasselbeck to the beleaguered Jerramy Stevens at the Steeler 1. It put Seattle in position to take a 17-14 lead with 12 minutes to play. That one hurt the Seahawks - not to mention their fans - most because of the circumstances of possibly getting the lead back. Replays were inconclusive, but only because of the camera angles. Someone saw something, or thought he saw something, and threw a flag. Does it automatically follow that the official is on the take? No. It was a call at a crucial part of the game and it went Pittsburgh's way. That's football. Besides, Locklear held, grabbed and squeezed more in the game alone than Hugh Heffner does in a month.

* The one I can't figure out was Hasselbeck's personal foul after he threw an interception to Ike Taylor. In one of the toughest plays I've seen a quarterback make, Hasselbeck not only brought down Taylor, but also a blocker. Yet, back judge Bob Waggoner dropped the flag and called a low block on Hasselbeck. Wow. Take down the ball-carrier and it's a tackle, not a block. Lame call. It gave the Steelers a great head start on a drive that pushed the score to 21-10.
The zebras didn't force Stevens to drop as many as four passes. They didn't force Hasselbeck, with an assist to coach Mike Holmgren, into simply horrible clock management at the end of the first half, when they couldn't figure out what to run. The zebras didn't give up Willie Parker's 75-yard TD at the beginning of the third quarter or Roethlisberger's 37-yard heave on third-and-28.

So enough of the whining, and that includes Holmgren, who rightfully should reach for his wallet after his crack about having to fight both the Steelers and the guys in the striped shirts.
It's done, people. Chill. Cuddle with a loved one and listen to "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder. Look on www.davebarry.com and read terms that would make great names for rock bands (examples: "Weasel Nostrils" and "Jimmy Music and the Stomach Contents").
Considering everything, the Super Bowl may have been one of the more decently officiated games of the playoffs. Ask Troy Polamalu. The uproar comes from the importance of the game and the vast television audience.

Still, the average NFL athlete has become too fast, too intelligent and too skilled for mere mortals to detect at full speed. It was easy to call Chuck Bednarik for a head-slap in the 1960s because he was glacially slow, comparatively speaking. Joey Porter can get away with it.
The replay rule has helped, but it's not enough.

Once the NFL stops its practice of yanking America's bankers and custodians out of their regular jobs and hires them full-time - with rigorous training curriculums in the off-season - we'll get the same controversies year after year.

It won't be perfect. We're working with humans here, remember.
In the meantime, let's all take deep, cleansing breaths and move on.

Seahawks post-season fate will be sorted out soon

2006-02-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

Most coaches will tell you that projections are just that- projectios, nad cary no weight until March. that doesn't mean they're not worth looking at though.

As of right now bracket experts Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com and Tony Mejia of CBSSportsline.com have the UNCW men's basketball team making the NCAA tournament in their projections as an at-large.

Even with the Seahawks projected in, some have questions about their Ratings Percentage Index rating (RPI). The RPI is something that comes up every year about this time, and usually only the people seeding the teams really understand.

The RPI is a complex formula that rates teams according to their winning percentage and strength of schedule. The strength of schedule rating for said team takes into account the strength of schedule of the opponents of the teams' opponents.

To put things simply, teams need to protect their home court, steal a few big wins on the road, and hope that that every team they play does the same.

The Seahawks currently sit at 45 in the RPI, which isn't far off of last year's mid-major at-larges. Northern Iowa made the tournament with an RPI of 42, Wichita State with a 44, and St. Mary's 38. To be on the safe side, the Seahawks could afford to move up five spots.

Though the losses to College of Charleston and East Carolina may have stung at the time, they're stinging even more now. UNCW dropped the game at home to Charleston, who carries a 184 RPI. The Pirates are a lowly 273 in the ratings.

Even though the Seahawks missed out on three big chances on the road at (RPI 16) Wisconsin, at (RPI 55) Hofstra, and at (RPI 27)George Mason, the selection committee can take into account the way the lost those games. Luckily, humans will do the selections and not computers.
UNCW has an open date this weekend, and will have eight days to prepare for the Rams. Perhaps even more importantly, the Seahawks will get a nice break before heading into crunch time.

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Bloom runs an out pattern

2006-02-16T04:45:00.000-08:00

If he does make an NFL roster, he just won't have an Olympic medal to show his new teammates.

The much-hyped star of the deep U.S. men's moguls team finished sixth under the lights on man-made snow on Wednesday night. The United States did get a medal, with the bronze going to Toby Dawson of Vail, Colo. But his was the only top-five finish for the Americans.
There certainly was the potential for more. The Americans were so deep in moguls that Nate Roberts, ranked fifth in this year's World Cup standings, didn't make the Olympic team.
"I thought I might be in there," Bloom said. "I didn't think I'd be one. I thought I'd be two or three. You can't focus your attention and goals on the result, because in a judged sport like this, it's up to a panel of people. If it was racing and just based on time, you could really focus on winning. Big props to those guys in the top three."

If Bloom was disappointed, he didn't let on. The two-sport star smiled a lot and talked more about his future in the NFL than he did about his final trip down the bumpy course behind him.
"There's a lot of happiness," Bloom said. "I did a lot of things really good today, but of course, at the end of the day, the one mistake was the one thing I didn't do well. So it's a mixed feeling."
The spotlight has been on Bloom for the last two years because he lost a fight with the NCAA over accepting skiing endorsements while playing football at Colorado. Forced to pick a sport, he walked away from football and stuck with skiing, training for Turin.

While Bloom didn't medal, Dawson found the right approach to dealing with the glare of the Olympics.

"It was nice for me because I just kind of snuck in their shadows," said Dawson, who earned a score of 26.30. "It was easier for me to just kind of follow in the shadows and not get harassed too much and hassled."

Dawson did say it will be different next year not having Bloom on the team.

Bloom said he had a moment at the top of the hill when he felt it was going to be his last ski competition. "Yeah, but never say never, you know? I never know what's going to happen."
He does know that he wants an NFL team to draft him. With the Olympics over, he'll head to Los Angeles to train for a few days, then attend the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis next week.

Bloom hasn't put on a helmet and shoulder pads in nearly 27 months, since Colorado lost to Nebraska the day after Thanksgiving in 2003.

But he has worked out with football players in the offseason, and says he expects his instincts to kick in.

Before his spat with the NCAA led him to focus solely on skiing, Bloom was a big playmaker at Colorado. He scored on his very first play, a 75-yard punt return. His first catch was good for a 94-yard touchdown.

He scored five touchdowns in two seasons, all covering at least 75 yards.

He was going to compete for a starting job as a junior. Now he hopes to make an NFL team as a fourth wide receiver, even though he's only 5-foot-9, 175 pounds. He certainly has an in as a return man.

Some observers think he could be picked in the late third round or in the fourth.

Bloom said everything he's gone through the last two years has been worth it.

"I can't even believe it," he said. "If this is the last mogul competition that I ever ski in, I still have to pinch myself, man, because I never thought in a million years I'd be able to accomplish the things I have done in the sport."

Bloom appeared in two Winter Games, won two overall World Cup titles and won six straight World Cup races last season, including one on the course used for the Olympics. He also made a lot of money.

Asked about his fight with the NCAA, he offered a qualifier.

"I don't view anything as a fight," he said. "With the NCAA stuff, that was obviously disappointing because I didn't feel I was asking for so much. I just wanted to be able to have the resources to do what I'm doing right now."

What he's doing is about to change drastically, starting next week in Indianapolis.
AP sports writer Bernie Wilson is covering the Olympics exclusively for Yahoo! Sports.

Anatomy of a Debacle

2006-02-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

I’ve been a Seahawk fan for a very long time; longer than I’ve liked or preferred any one other single thing. My taste in foods has changed. My vision and concept of the ideal woman have also been changed. I’ve also learned to like different music and movies over that span. But there through all the years has been the Seahawks, always loved them and I always will.

I’ve seen some really great games played by the Seattle Seahawks. Obviously no Super Bowl or even conference championships, but I’ve seen games I was proud of.

I’ve also seen some really bad games in the years we had a real stinker of a team. So I guess what I’m alluding to is I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen games we were robbed by bad officiating and games that we just got outplayed by a better team. But Sunday…well Sunday was something special. I’ve never seen this before.

Never before in my twenty-seven years of hearing, watching or even reading about a Seahawk game did I see, hear and watch what I watched that day. Sunday we hit an all time low. Sunday I was actually embarrassed by my team. Sunday I felt that the loss they were eventually handed was well deserved.

We went from a team that in the first thirty minutes was actually humiliating another division rival. We were embarrassing the Rams on national TV. The Seahawks were just crushing the very life and spirit of yet another team at Qwest field. We were a well oiled, fine tuned and determined team on both sides of the ball.

We ran, we passed, and we scored. We intercepted, we tackled and we made a statement to the NFL; take notice we are the Seahawks! We are no longer the red headed step child of the league and this is our year!

Yes, I and the faithful with me and in my section were filled with pride. We felt we had finally arrived after decades of hopes and dreams. The feeling I and those around me had was something only a true Seahawk fan can describe. My hands were actually sore from the multitude of high fives by the masses in 344. I’ll tell you, it was really a dream come true. Well, almost…

Somewhere in the deepest recesses of my always cautious mind during halftime I sat alone and had time to contemplate the scoreboard. I thought something seems too good here. Maybe it was those many years of good feelings that went bad. But I didn’t mention it at halftime to my brethren. I just kept thinking and saying out loud, "Keep the pressure on guys and keep scoring after halftime, don’t let them breathe."

Second half of the game begins and the rest as they say…is history.
In the second half we had a total of three first downs and were 0 for 6 in third down conversion. That’s simply staggering to think of since we had seventeen first downs in the first thirty minutes of play.

The same Rams team that had a grand total of five first downs in the first half put together sixteen first downs in the second half. Keep in mind we were the recipients of three turnovers to ZERO. We had the ball almost ten minutes of the fourth quarter and what did we do in those nine minutes and forty-nine seconds? We made three whole first downs.
So where did we go wrong?

Killer instinct:

We had absolutely no killer instinct from the kickoff after halftime until we eventually lost on that long third and eight that somehow, someway turned into a fifty-two yard touchdown.
And our defense was rated #1 in the NFL? This is the same defense that played lights out for three weeks and without question was our most stable side of the ball.

What I saw Sunday wasn’t quite prevent defense, it was more like a replay of the 2003 season where every stinking long ball somehow found its way into the hands of the no name receiver on the other end of the hail Mary-like pass. Since we had the ball for 9:49 of the fourth it couldn’t be the defense was tired. What the hell was it then? I still don’t know.

Offensive ineptitude:

Koren "we’ve been robbed again" Robinson is quite possibly the most overrated player in the entire NFL. He is simply a facade of this "Ready to break out any minute" wide receiver. And like the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause he has to be revealed as a myth.

This kid is just not very good. I would go farther to say that if Holmgren himself had not drafted this guy in the first round he would probably not even be a practice team player. Taco or Urban has more of an upside than this neverending head case.

Ahman Green isn’t here for fumbling in practice. Koren on the other hand is a drive killing machine…during games. Koren has quite possibly dropped more passes than any other starting WR at this point in his career than any other starter in NFL history; because quite frankly, you don’t remain a starter in the NFL with that kind of downside in your game. And Koren was benched for missing meetings? I don’t see the equality here.

I have never seen or heard of a player on a home team’s field get booed before halftime in a 24-7 blowout. But this man was thoroughly booed and rightfully so. We all knew, this was going to come back to haunt us, somehow, someway.

Coaching, time management and lack of adjustments:

In a word there was none. Holmgren again acted like a rookie head coach. He hasn’t learned a damn thing in all those apologies he’s made for all the lousy games he’s called in the five years he’s been here. Remember Baltimore, Washington and St. Louis Holmy?

He’s lost his ability to pull out a win. He needs a big lead and a lousy team to assist with the victory. You would think he would just to continue to score out of respect for us the fans. Not out of some gamesmanship bull where he doesn’t want to run the score up.
Listen buddy, with the way you guys can blow a game you need to keep scoring until they blow the whistle at sixty minutes.

With the ball at 3:24 left on the clock Holmgren could have managed the game better by running more and throwing less; every drop resulted in essentially a timeout for the Rams because they had none.

At 2:40 Bobby…dependable Bobby Engram was thrown a lousy pass from Hass. The pass was far behind him and there was no way anyone could catch it. As subtle as that play was, that pretty much sealed our fate because the clock then stopped and gave the Rams a sliver of hope. And that’s all they needed.

Defensively our adjustment at halftime was to allow the Rams to win the game by playing far enough off to allow first downs and letting everything thrown long to land in the hands of the intended receiver. Who decided on the 3rd and 8 in OT that Bierria would cover a WR alone and Bobby Taylor would blitz without even bumping McDonald at the line of scrimmage?
Who drew that debacle of a cluster f#$% defensive play and why did we think we could get to Bulger in OT on 3rd down when we couldn’t get to him all day long? A four WR set and we left Bierria on an island? That’s simply inexcusable. They were throwing the deep pass all day with no pressure and now Taylor is going to be the catalyst we needed rushing from the outside on a for sure passing down?

I’m a bonehead fan with limited professional football experience (That’s obvious right?) and I saw that coming from way up in the 300 level. Bierria looked like Jim Carrey or Jerry Lewis running ahead of himself down the field. It was just then I though to myself, "That’s going to be the highlight from this game?"

Enough Blame to go around:

Bottom line is that it was this combination of players and coaches that sealed our fate. A lack of effort on both sides after the whistle blew starting the second half. A continued attempt at throwing passes to a WR who couldn’t catch the Ebola virus if we locked him in a cage with ten rabid infected recess monkeys. And a coaching staff that is as creative as Mike Martz hair stylist.

All these factors lead to the single most embarrassing loss by a team since Buckner botched a routine grounder. And we don’t have a single ref to blame this time…not one.

Hold them all accountable:

Hasselbeck can point the finger at himself with the bad throws and the miscues. Even Alexander who ran for 150 yards (It’s hard to even say this after 150 yards) can take some heat. If he would have had that one freaking yard on 3rd and one I wouldn’t even be writing this stupid column. Sure it would be a slightly skewed, slightly optimistic column for the lack of play in the second half…but a win that we barley squeezed out, but a WIN is still a WIN. A lesson would surely be learned. But that was replaced at 1:14 left in regulation with this column. Because that was the exact moment the Rams took possession and had their final drive; a drive that should have never even existed.

But Alexander’s not the only guy; it was ALL the guys and the coaches who decided that the Rams could not come back when they should have known better. Because in the 3rd quarter we the fans…we knew better and we were screaming it at the top of our lungs. "Don’t let these guys come back…what are you doing?" My throat still bares the scars of those words today. All the fans in my section had the look of the Cub fans. We saw the train wreck coming.
What happens now?

Is our season over? No. Has the optimism I once exuded through my pores diminished back to "Same old Seahawks"? It sickens me to no end to say maybe, maybe it has. And you all know I’m a huge homer; but as an objective columnist I have to write about what happened during the game and what that showed me as an objective writer.

They didn’t just lose today. Maybe they revealed who they really are; just another Seahawks team in another typical Seahawks year. Born to disappoint and flirt with greatness, to only in the end create a Titanic type disaster.

Next week will show me what this team is made of and where we are going; because next week a championship caliber team will emerge or it will be submerged.

You Seahawk players think I’m crazy? You think you’re better than that game showed? Well then you go ahead and prove me wrong guys.
Prove me wrong, I’m freaking begging you.

Cavan open account

2006-02-14T01:45:00.000-08:00

Cavan produced a disjointed display but still managed to claim their first NFL Division 2B points of the season at the expense of pointless (1-13 to 1-12) Wicklow after a cracking clash at atmospheric Aughrim.

The Ulstermen were a class apart for most of the first half with a brillant brace of points from 2005 minor star Ronan Flanagan helping to propel them to a none-too flattering 0-6 to 0-1 lead after 24 minutes.

Things continued to look rosy for the blues as seasoned campaigner Larry Reilly stretched Cavan’s lead to six points just three minutes later.

The homesters’ forwards profited greatly from running directly at the backpeddling Cavan defence and the points flowed accordingly.

Good scores from Gareth Doyle, O’Gorman and Tommy Gill for Wicklow went unanswered as Wicklow gained parity at 1-4 to 0-7 with 33 minutes on the clock.
The much improved Wicklow men continued to remain on the forefoot as they sought to consolidate their 1-6 to 0-8 interval advantage.

Dual star Leightin Glynn - relocated from centre-back to the half forward line with great effect - pointed to leave once cocky Cavan continuing to struggle to recover their first half lustre.
With 11 minutes played in the second half Wicklow looked well poised to nab their first brace of NFL points as a brace of points from goalscorer O’Gorman served to hand Kenny’s charges a 1-9 to 0-8 cushioned lead.

Wicklow tried desperately thereafter to pull the fat from the fire and while Tommy Gill nabbed two quick points, it was all to no avail as for the second weekend in succession they fell short of the mark against northern opposition.

Panthers star in Pro Bowl

2006-02-14T01:41:00.000-08:00

Under the direction of Carolina head coach John Fox and the team's coaching staff, the NFC defeated the AFC, 23-17, in the Pro Bowl on Sunday at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. Four Panthers also played in only the NFC's third win in the last 10 NFL All-Star games. Wide receiver Steve Smith and defensive end Julius Peppers started, while quarterback Jake Delhomme and guard Mike Wahle contributed as reserves.

The NFC's performance reflected that of the Panthers late in the season. The NFC held the AFC to 260 total yards and 71 rushing yards and forced six turnovers that led to 14 points in the lowest-scoring Pro Bowl since 1999. Carolina limited 12 opponents to less than 300 total yards, ranked fourth in rushing defense, and established a team-record with 42 take-aways in 2005.

And Fox didn't waver from his coaching style that has earned him 41 victories, including the playoffs, since becoming the Panthers head coach in 2002. With the game tied at 17 in the fourth quarter, the NFC moved 59 yards before the drive stalled at the AFC 18-yard line. On fourth-and-two, Fox played the percentages, much to the crowd's displeasure, and decided to have Arizona kicker Neil Rackers kick a 22-yard field goal that gave the NFC a 20-17 lead with 6:29 remaining. From there, Fox let the defense took over, which proceeded to recover two fumbles and end the game on a sack.

mith, making his second Pro Bowl appearance, recorded a game-high eight receptions for 46 yards and added six yards on a reverse. During the regular season, Smith, who also played in the Pro Bowl following his rookie season in 2001, led the NFL with 1,563 receiving yards and tied for first in the League with 103 catches and 12 touchdown receptions.

Delhomme saw action in the third quarter and completed seven-of-10 passes for 53 yards to compile a game-high 82.5 quarterback rating in his first career Pro Bowl. Five of Delhomme's completions went to Smith, his favorite target during the regular season when he completed 262-of-435 passes for 3,421 yards and 24 touchdowns. Of the six quarterbacks who played, he was the only one who did not commit a turnover.

Peppers started his second consecutive Pro Bowl after leading the Panthers with 10.5 sacks in 2005 and produced one tackle. Appearing in his first career Pro Bowl, Wahle became the first Carolina offensive lineman to play in the NFL All-Star game.

Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown and posted two tackles and one pass defensed to garner player of the game honors.

Law and Vilma to Represent the Jets in Hawaii

2006-02-14T01:32:00.000-08:00

The best players from the American Football Conference meet the best players from the National Football Conference Sunday at Aloha Stadium as the NFL plays its final game of the season. Both veteran cornerback Ty Law and second-year middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma will represent the Jets this weekend in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Law is making his fifth career appearance in the Pro Bowl, having also represented the AFC as a New England Patriot following the 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons. He finished tied for first in the league with 10 interceptions and added 65 tackles (54 solo) and 13 passes defensed.

“It’s kind of bittersweet because I had great expectations for our team coming into the season and it’s very unfortunate that we’re not in the post-season,” Law said after his selection. “On the other hand I’m very, very happy with my individual play.”

The trip to Hawaii completes an impressive comeback for Law. In 2004, the Michigan alum started the first seven games of the season before being sidelined with a broken bone in his foot that kept him out for the remainder of the season and the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory. The Jets signed Law in early August, and he once again went back to his stealing ways.

Law’s nomination marks the first time the Jets have sent a defensive back to the Pro Bowl since Aaron Glenn was selected in 1998. He now has 46 career interceptions and earlier this year became only the 72nd player in the NFL since 1969 to record 40 or more interceptions in regular season play.

Just over two weeks ago, the NFL announced that Vilma would join Law on the AFC team. Vilma was chosen to fill a vacancy left by Miami LB Zack Thomas, who pulled out of the all-star game due to nagging ankle and shoulder injuries.

"It’s an honor for me to be selected to play in the Pro Bowl," Vilma said. "It was one of my goals when I set my sights on playing in the National Football League and I am excited to play with all the great players that have also been selected."

Vilma, a 6-1, 230-pound natural, led the NFL in tackles and his 187 stops set a Jets’ single-season record.

“Number one, he’s a smart guy on and off the field,” said Jets linebacker coach Bob Sutton during the season of Vilma. “He has the unique ability to be able to study things and gather information, put it into compartments, and then use it when he needs to. His greatest asset is he can relate what a team is doing to something else he knows, so that he can adjust on the fly.”
Two seasons into this NFL career and Vilma is only 23-years-old. One figures he’ll make a couple of more Pro Bowl trips.

“His future is extremely bright. If he wants to continue to put in the time and effort he can be whatever he wants in this league,” Sutton said.

Look for fun, and limited intensity, in the Pro Bowl

2006-02-12T03:04:00.000-08:00

The ball was thrown perfectly, but it went right through Jeff Hartings' arms.

No surprise there, because Hartings plays center for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

What did seem a bit irregular was the AFC offensive linemen were running pass patterns before the final practice for Sunday's Pro Bowl when Hartings bungled the reception, not that anybody cared.

A day earlier, NFC coach John Fox laughed as he told one of his players he shouldn't expect much of a game plan.

“There's not going to be a whole lot of scheming going on,” Fox said.

And following a light AFC practice Friday, tight end Tony Gonzalez spent most of the day snorkeling with several friends, probably not the best way to prepare for a game less than 48 hours before kickoff.

“We rented scooters to get there,” he said. “We had a great time.”

That's really the deal – Pro Bowl week is basically a vacation for all involved. Nevertheless, several participants said that once the game begins, the competitor in them comes out. And it's not necessarily about the $40,000 that goes to members of the winning team compared to the $20,000 the losers receive.

“Winning is the key. At what point it gets serious, I don't know. But it will,” AFC wide receiver Chad Johnson said.

“Competitiveness takes over. You're having fun all week. When it comes down to game-time, everyone wants to win,” AFC quarterback Trent Green said.

“I'm not going to go out there trying to be a super hero or anything like that,” NFC wide receiver Santana Moss said. “You never know when, but it's going to be stepped up. Everyone's going to rock and roll.”

The AFC has won four of the past five Pro Bowls to take an 18-17 lead in the series that began in its present format in 1971, and was moved permanently to Aloha Stadium in 1980.
“We consider ourselves the 33rd NFL franchise, if you will,” Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann said Saturday. “We consider this a lovefest. I think part of the reason is Hawaii and Polynesia have sent so many players to the NFL. The Steelers and Seahawks have six players of Polynesian descent. There's a natural bond.”

Two of those six – Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu and Seattle's Lofa Tatupu – will play Sunday.
“The people here know the NFL gives back,” Hannemann said. “That's why we embrace them.”
Each of the 26 previous Pro Bowls at Aloha Stadium has been played before a capacity crowd of around 50,000, and Sunday's game will make it 27 straight sellouts.

Fox and Denver's Mike Shanahan, losing coaches in the conference championship games, head up the respective Pro Bowl teams.

“You don't get a lot of preparation, you want to make sure the players know what you're doing,” Shanahan said. “The rules are very basic. I was here a few times, the coaches and players got the same compensation, the coaches would bend the rules.”

Now, Shanahan pointed out, it's difficult for that to happen because officials in the press box are watching. And members of the winning coaching staff receive $15,000, with their counterparts getting $10,000 each.

The rules limit what the defenses can do, making a high-scoring game almost a sure thing. The AFC won 38-27 last year; the NFC won 55-52 two years ago, and the teams combined for 82, 55, 68 and 65 points in the four games before that.

“It's OK, the rules apply for both teams,” AFC cornerback Champ Bailey said. “If they're going to do that, though, they should bring four corners over here (per team) instead of three.”
Bailey paused before he smiled and said: “We should get paid more.”
Peyton Manning was the MVP last year, passing for 130 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts' star has thrown for a career Pro Bowl-records of 992 yards and 11 touchdowns in five appearances.

“This game doesn't count in the actual standings,” he said. “The thing I appreciate is it's voted on by the fans, your peers, the coaches. It's always a true honor and a privilege to play here.
“You try to win. Everyone wants to stay healthy. When you get out there, the crowd's there, the lights come on, you want to play well.”

That definitely applies to Cincinnati star Johnson, who said: “That's what I'm here for, to put on a show.”

Green and Steve McNair join Manning as quarterbacks on the AFC roster. NFC quarterbacks are Matt Hasselbeck, Michael Vick and Jake Delhomme.

The AFC running backs are Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson and fullback Lorenzo Neal. Their NFC counterparts are Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Warrick Dunn and fullback Mack Strong.

The AFC is favored by four points.
source : http://www.signonsandiego.com/

NFL Notes: Texans extend Carr's contract

2006-02-11T16:58:00.000-08:00

David Carr will be with the Houston Texans another three years, perhaps an indication the team might favor Heisman Trophy running back Reggie Bush over Texas quarterback Vince Young with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

The Texans had the option of extending their quarterback's contract for two seasons, but Friday decided to make it three instead. Financial terms were not disclosed. Four years ago, Carr signed a seven-year, $46 million contract after being the first draft pick in team history.
If the move was an indication that the Texans would pass on Young, a Houston native who led the Longhorns to the national title, owner Bob McNair wasn't saying.

"We have not closed any doors," McNair said. "We'll be visiting with all the top players, including Vince Young, and the whole process is going to lead to one conclusion, and that is: What can we do to put together a winning football team, and what could we do to help this team?"
Carr was diplomatic about the possibility of Young possibly vying for his position next season.
"If he were to come here, my job is still the same," Carr said. "My job is to go out and perform like I know I can and do whatever I can to compete for a job.."

Report: Shell to Raiders
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders agreed to a contract with Art Shell to be the successor to coach Norv Turner, a person in the Raiders' front office and a person close to Shell confirmed to the Contra Costa Times.

A news conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today to introduce Shell as the team's 15th coach. It will be his second go-round with the Raiders.

Shell, 59, who replaced Mike Shanahan as Raiders coach four games into the 1989 season, guided the team to three playoff appearances in his five-plus seasons. He was fired after the 1994 campaign and has not received another head-coaching offer since.

Shell has been senior vice president of NFL football operations and development since 2004.
Notes

• New Chiefs coach Herman Edwards believes there is a good chance G Will Shields and RB Priest Holmes will be back next season.

Shields, an 11-time Pro Bowl guard who was slowed much of the season by various nagging injuries, considered retirement after the 2004 season. Holmes, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, went out at midseason after undergoing surgery for head and neck trauma.

• Titans assistant George Henshaw was hired as New Orleans Saints senior assistant and running backs coach, and Greg McMahon was hired as assistant special teams coach.

• Ron English told the Bears he would not coach their defensive backs. The University of Michigan assistant accepted the job earlier this week, but later decided to turn down the offer.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Fan Q&A: Brandon Short

2006-02-11T02:55:00.000-08:00

Panthers.com

If you have a question for safety Colin Branch, please send it to bordenb@panthers.nfl.com.
BRANDON SHORT Q&A

Does it make the season more rewarding or disappointing to be one win away from the Super Bowl? Nance, Trinity, NC

BS:You can look at it either way. When you put it like that, one win away from the Super Bowl, it's disappointing. But a lot of teams wish they were in our position, playing for the NFC championship. We had a good season. We have a good core group of guys and a lot to build on from last year, so it was definitely a rewarding season. You'd rather make it that far than not make it that far.

What aspects of playing strongside linebacker do you find the most challenging/rewarding? Steve, Cary, NC

BS: The most challenging thing, at least for me, was the move from middle linebacker and getting used to playing over the tight end. Playing in close quarters and getting your hands on the tight end quickly. The most rewarding thing is simply playing linebacker and being able to make plays. Interceptions, sacks, tackles...no matter where the play goes you have the ability to make that play.

Do you believe in an NFC Championship hangover? Josh, Charlotte

BS: History may say that a lot of people who go far in the playoffs come back the next year and don't have such a good year, but that's for the weak minded. I don't believe in that at all. I believe it's a good thing that we made it as far as we did. It shows that we're a good football team and it means that we're only going to build on that and be better next year.

If you could tackle anyone in NFL history, who would it be? Mark, Jefferson, NC

BS: Walter Payton. Sweetness. In my mind, he embodied everything that a running back should be and everything that a football player should be.

Who is the toughest player you ever went up against? Jeff, Lexington, NC

BS: I've gone up against so many good players, it would almost be an injustice to pick just one. The hardest hit I ever had was on Monday Night Football when I was with the New York Giants. It was by James Thrash of the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a rivalry very similar to the Panthers and Falcons. There was some hitting going on, and he got me.

Is there anyone on the team you hang out with during the offseason? Anthony, Buffalo, NY

BS: The linebackers with the Panthers are like a cult. We're a tight knit group. I hang out with a bunch of the LBs during the offseason. I hang out with Vinny Ciurciu up in New Jersey when I go up to New York. We work out with the same trainer there. The Withermorgans (Will Witherspoon and Dan Morgan) go on their annual trip, and we'll all get together and hang out.

How did you feel personally about shutting out your old team in the playoffs? Markimus, NC

BS: It felt great. I could not have written a script with a better return to Giants Stadium than that.

What differences do you notice between the John Fox who was your defensive coordinator in New York and the John Fox who is your head coach now? Rich, Columbus, OH

BS: The guys are going to kill me for saying this, but (Coach Fox) is a lot more laid back as the head coach than he was as a defensive coordinator. He was much more in your face and instructive in New York. You have to be more laid back when you're in control of everything. When you're in charge of one aspect of the team, you can focus more intently on that aspect. On top of that I was a rookie and then a starter in my second year. John Fox expects a lot out of you.

Do you guys ever read the message boards on the internet to see what people are saying about you and the team? Scott, Indian Trail, NC

BS: Personally, I don't. I try to stay away from it because it's poison to the mind. Whenever they tell you you're doing well, it can make you weak. And whenever they tell you you're doing bad, it can bring you down. So I try to stay away from it.

What was the most amusing thing you have ever seen happen on the field or the sidelines? Mark, NC

BS: It's a Joe Paterno story. I think it was my junior year at Penn State, and the offensive line was having a hard time with cut blocks. They weren't cutting people properly. The offensive line coach was doing cut drills, and Joe got mad. He went over and yelled, "No! No! No! This is how you do it." Joe wanted to demonstrate how to do a cut block, so he had one of the offensive linemen hold up a bag. When you cut block, you're supposed to lead with your shoulder. But Joe led with his body. He emulated Superman as he cut blocked the dummy. He rolled on the ground and bounced around, and everything got quiet. No one knew if he was hurt. He got up and yelled, "Yeah! Baloney!" Everyone started busting out laughing because we saw that he was all right.

How much longer do you see Joe Paterno coaching? Loki, Springfield, MO
BS: As long as Joe wants to.

Tell us something that we as fans would be surprised to learn about NFL players or the NFL. Fireball, Cleveland, OH

BS: How much work and dedication it takes just to be an NFL player. Most people think that what you see on Sunday is all an NFL player has to do. They don't understand that it's a full-time job just like anyone else's, only a lot more stressful physically. Our off-season conditioning program starts in mid to late March, just a month and a half after the last season ended for us.

After a strong season for the defense that finished third overall what areas do you think can be improved for next season? Steven B, Brisbane, Australia

BS: We finished number three. We should be number one.

What was the biggest moment in your football career? John, Hershey, PA

BS: There have been a bunch of them, but probably playing in the Super Bowl that first time for the New York Giants. I won state championships in high school and played in the Fiesta Bowl and Citrus Bowl in college, but being a part of the Super Bowl is what every little kid dreams of. It's what every person in this business aspires to do, and just being a part of that was awesome. Winning it is a dream come true, which we plan on doing next year here with the Panthers.

Jets Shop to Host End of the Season Blowout Sale at the Meadowlands

2006-02-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

Jets Shop, the New York Jets official team store, will have its end-of-season blow out sale at the Stadium Club located at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ from Thursday, February 9 to Saturday, February 11.

Sports fans can find their favorite official New York Jets merchandise including men’s, women’s and youth apparel such as jerseys, outerwear, T-shirts, sportswear, hats and souvenirs for up to 75% off their original prices. New York Jets’ alumni are scheduled to appear and sign autographs for patrons throughout the three-day sale.

Thurs., Feb 9, 2006 (11AM-7PM) Alumni Session 12PM - 3PM Dave Herman
Fri., Feb 10, 2006 (11AM-7PM) Alumni Session 12PM - 3PM Fred Baxter
Sat., Feb 11, 2006 (10AM-5PM) Alumni Session 10AM - 1PM Wesley Walker, 1PM-4PM Rocky Klever

The Stadium Club will be open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Thursday and Friday and then from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday. For easy access to the Stadium Club use parking lot 15 between gates C and D of the Meadowlands.

Warren Moon to be Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

2006-02-10T04:42:00.000-08:00

As if it isn’t enough that the Seattle Seahawks are in the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, one of the great figures in the history of Seattle football was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday.

Former Seahawks and University of Washington quarterback Warren Moon was one of six players inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday in a vote by the Pro Football Writers.

Moon was joined by former Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman and Rayfield Wright, late defensive end Reggie White, linebacker Harry Carson and former coach John Madden.

The selection of Moon was particularly momentous. Although he didn’t intend to make race relevant in his selection to the Hall, there’s no getting around it. This was a ground-breaking announcement.

“To be the first African-American quarterback into the Hall of Fame, all African-American quarterbacks who played before me should share in this," Moon said. "I don't want to make this a racial thing, but I think it is significant. It shows that we have arrived at the pinnacle of our sport."

And it isn’t as if he didn’t earn it. Moon came out of the University of Washington in 1978 following a stunning upset of Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Nonetheless, the 6-2, 220-pound Moon was shunned by the NFL and headed to the Canadian Football League, where he played for the Edmonton Eskimos, leading them to five consecutive Grey Cups.

With so many mediocre quarterbacks on shaky teams, the NFL finally woke up. In 1984 he was signed by the Houston Oilers. Seventeen seasons later, he had thrown for an amazing 51,061 yards and 313 touchdowns – including being voted into nine Pro Bowls by his peers. He played 11 years for the Oilers, followed by three with the Minnesota Vikings, two with the Seahawks and his final two seasons were in Kansas City.

Just how important this is to so many of the African-Americans in the NFL, from coaches to players, is obvious. Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy came out of Minnesota as a quarterback in 1978 as well, and didn’t get drafted. He did play three seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers as a safety, but became the youngest assistant coach in the NFL the next season with the Steelers.

Dungy took the classic route for black college quarterbacks into the secondary, while others became wide receivers. That didn’t change until the past decade or so.
“Actually, Warren and I are contemporary’s and neither one of us got drafted,” Dungy said. “Warren took a little different path; he went to Canada and played, whereas I changed positions. It’s nice to see that a guy with Warren Moon’s ability nowadays doesn’t have to go to Canada or doesn’t have to prove himself in some other way. From that standpoint we have made progress. To see Warren get in the Hall of Fame is another step; to see an African-American quarterback in the Hall of Fame would be fantastic.”

And even a young quarterback like Atlanta’s Michael Vick, who came out of Virginia Tech in 2001, understands what Moon meant to the game and the future of black quarterbacks in general. Moon shattered the theory that African-American quarterbacks get by on sheer athleticism. Unlike the mercurial speed of Vick, he was actually slow of foot, and didn’t tower over the offensive lines, either. He just had a superior arm that was both accurate and strong, and a great sense of reading defenses.

“Warren was just a passer,” Vick said. “He was very accurate with the ball. He made plays and Houston was one of my teams growing up. They had a great receiving core. I still remember all the receivers, Wesley Slaughter, Ernst Givens and all those guys. I just loved watching him play. I loved seeing him play every Sunday. He was very accurate with the football, one of the most accurate in the game.

“When I was at Virginia Tech we had a chance to talk, he encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing. He told me one day, some positive things will happen. Every African-American quarterback I have seen play in this league, even though there are very few, always gave me some hope that I would have the opportunity. All I ever wished for was a chance to play. I never thought I was going to be a first-round pick, I never knew I was going to have blazing speed and a big-time arm. I never knew any of that, I just wanted a shot. I just wanted to prove to people that I could play in the league.”

Moon made the difference. Now the radio analyst alongside Steve Raible on Seahawks radio broadcasts, what he proved is the essence of change in America. Fortunately, the Pro Football Writers didn’t use his lack of a Super Bowl ring as an excuse. It just proved progress has been made.

“It’s a great honor,” Moon said.
For all of us.

Bodog.com Lingerie Bowl III Scores Big With Fans, Sponsors and Media

2006-02-10T04:35:00.000-08:00

Horizon Productions has beenflooded by emails and phone calls from fans, sponsors and media following thethird annual broadcast of the Bodog.com Lingerie Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday.The event that celebrates clash of football and entertainment once againcaptivated a halftime audience around the world with supermodels playingfull-contact tackle football, celebrities, former NFL greats, lingerie fashionshow, performances by Bodog Music stars and a fireworks finale that would havemade Uncle Sam proud.

The Bodog.com Lingerie Bowl has truly establisheditself as a fan favorite and media darling. In the week following the SuperBowl XL halftime alternative, fans have praised the broadcast while worldwidemedia from The Tonight Show to ESPN to BBC have provided coverage. "Thisseason's Bodog.com Lingerie Bowl really proved to be a break-through broadcastthat will be talked about for months to come," said Mitchell Mortaza Creator &Executive Producer.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060209/LATH103 )

Super Bowl XL's halftime show in Detroit featured The Rolling Stonesdelivering a predictably censored set while the Bodog.com Lingerie Bowl IIIriveted fans. In the days since, the Bodog.com Lingerie Bowl III and not theStones has been the water-cooler talk around the country. The conversationshave been centered around everything from the first ever meeting of Amy Fisher& Joey Buttafuoco in almost 15 years for the opening coin-toss to William 'TheRefrigerator' Perry piling over models on his way to the goaline in his firsttouchdown score since Super Bowl XX to one of the greatest 80s rap/hip-hopcollaborations ever featuring Whodini, Biz Markie, Doug E Fresh, Slick Rickand Chubb Rock. If you missed one moment of the action, contact your local cable orsatellite provider for the Bodog.com Lingerie Bowl III replay schedule.

What the Media Are Saying:

Online Giant Bodog.com Doubles Super Bowl Business, Lingerie Bowl aStunning Success" -- Covers.com, Feb 7, 2006

Seahawks fans and the Rolling Stones might not have been able to get nosatisfaction at the Super Bowl on Sunday, but viewers of a rival pay-per-viewentertainment extravaganza were left satisfied no matter who they rooted for" -- Mainichi Daily News, Feb 6, 2006

When we tuned over to Pay-Per-View at halftime, the Lingerie Bowl reallydrew us in so much that we forgot to flip back to the Super Bowl for the startof the second half" -- The Fan, Feb 6, 2006

"Lingerie Bowl, The Game of Choice" -- The Advertiser, Australia Feb 7,2006
"Nothing XL About the Super Bowl" -- Grand Rapids Press, Feb 5, 2006

SOURCE Horizon Productions

Web Site: http://www.lingeriebowl.com/ http://www.Bodog.com

Photo Notes: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060209/LATH103

AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org

PRN Photo Desk,photodesk@prnewswire.com

NFL : League defends Super Bowl officials

2006-02-09T00:44:00.000-08:00

The NFL defended the officiating in the Super Bowl, and Joe Montana defended himself.

Two days after the Steelers beat the Seahawks, 21-10, in the NFL title game, the league said Tuesday that the game was "properly officiated.

"Including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement.

Meanwhile, three-time Super Bowl MVP Montana denied reports he had asked for $100,000 to appear with other past MVPs at pre-game ceremonies. He left Detroit on Friday, and returned home to attend his sons' weekend basketball games.

"I had told them both that I'd be there for their games and that we'd watch the Super Bowl together," Montana said in an interview with ESPN. Later, Montana added, "The Super Bowl is important to a lot of people but, to me, it was more important that I was home with my boys."

Two-time MVP Terry Bradshaw and Miami's Jake Scott were the only other MVP's who didn't attend. Bradshaw reportedly want to be with his family. Scott was not traveling in Australia as had been reported. He was home in Hawaii on Sunday, according to his mother. He was watching the Super Bowl with about 30 friends, some visiting from Florida.

"He said he didn't get an invitation to the Super Bowl until a month ago and he'd planned to have those visitors," Mary Scott said from Atlanta. "Maybe he would have gone if he'd been invited earlier. Of course, maybe he wouldn't have."

Cincinnati: Free agent quarterback Doug Johnson signed a one-year contract after spending two games last season on Cleveland's roster.

Cleveland: Quarterback Trent Dilfer had surgery on his right knee at the Cleveland Clinic to repair a partial tear of the patella tendon. He is expected to be ready for next season.

N.Y. Jets: A month after Herman Edwards left for Kansas City, general manager Terry Bradway stepped down after five seasons as general manager. Assistant GM Mike Tannenbaum takes over for Bradway, who will stay with the team as a consultant.

Seattle: League MVP Shaun Alexander sprained his right foot during the Seahawks' Super Bowl loss and is uncertain if he will play in the Pro Bowl this weekend. "I didn't even know it happened, but it swelled up," Alexander said.

Tennessee: Quarterback Steve McNair was added to the AFC's Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for Denver's Jake Plummer, who won't play due to an injury. This will be McNair's third Pro Bowl.

Notebook: The judge who led her courtroom in a Super Bowl cheer before a manslaughter sentencing hearing has issued an apology to the victim's family, prosecutors and others in the Tacoma, Wash., court. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Beverly G. Grant had said she was just trying to ease tensions Friday when she asked everyone to say "Go Seahawks" before starting the hearing. On Monday, after drawing heavy criticism, Grant said she never meant to hurt anyone's feelings and issued the apology. Grant resentenced Steve Keo Teang at the hearing to 13 1/2 years in prison for the shooting death of Tino Patricelli during a fight outside a tavern.
source: www.freep.com

Super Bowl Trivia

2006-02-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

By Brett Borden
Panthers.com

1. What was the only Super Bowl in which the NFL's top offense and defense clashed?

2. Who was the only team to score more than the Panthers did in a losing effort in a Super Bowl?

3. Which Super Bowl was the final game before the AFL/NFL merger?

4. Who was the first team to outgain its opponent but lose the Super Bowl?

5. Buffalo lost four consecutive Super Bowls (XXV through XXVII). What two teams had already lost four Super Bowls?

6. Who is the only team to wear three different colored jerseys in Super Bowls?

7. The Panthers and Patriots scored 37 points in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII. How many did they combine to score in the first and third quarters?

8. What six teams have never played in a Super Bowl?

9. What is the largest deficit a team has ever overcome to win a Super Bowl?

10. What Super Bowl featured touchdowns via return on three consecutive plays?

11. How many consecutive Super Bowls had the NFC won before Denver defeated Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII to end the streak?

12. In the last eight Super Bowls, how many times has the team that scored first gone on to victory?

13. Who was the only person to win Super Bowl MVP as a special teams player?

14. Teams from which current NFL division have won the most Super Bowls?

15. Teams from which current NFL division have lost the most Super Bowls?

16. How many teams won a Super Bowl in their first appearance?

17. What was the first Super Bowl played in February?

18. How many Super Bowls have been won by each conference/league?

19. What is the most common point total of a Super Bowl winner?

20. Name the only two teams to appear in at least three consecutive Super Bowls.

(Scroll down for answers)

1. Super Bowl XXXVII, Tampa Bay vs. Oakland
2. Dallas, Super Bowl XIII, 31 points
3. Super Bowl IV, Kansas City vs. Minnesota
4. Cincinnati, Super Bowl XVI
5. Minnesota IV, VIII, IX, XI; and Denver XII, XXI, XXXII, XXIV
6. New England, red, white, blue
7. Zero
8. Browns, Cardinals, Jaguars, Lions, Saints, Texans
9. 10 points, Washington in Super Bowl XXII
10. Super Bowl XXXV, Duane Starks interception return, Ron Dixon kickoff return, Jermaine Lewis kickoff return
11. Thirteen
12. Three
13. KR/PR Desmond Howard, Green Bay, Super Bowl XXXI
14. NFC East with 10: Dallas 5, Washington 3, Giants 2
15. AFC East with nine: Buffalo 4, Miami 3, New England 2
16. Nine: Packers, Jets, Colts, Steelers, 49ers, Bears, Giants, Ravens, Buccaneers
17. Super Bowl XXXIV
18. NFC 21, AFC 18
19. 27, four times
20. Buffalo XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII; and Miami VI, VII, VIII

Austin Wranglers game notes

2006-02-09T00:29:00.000-08:00

Austin Wranglers (2-0) at
Kansas City Brigade (0-2)
Date: Sunday, February 12, 2006
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (CT)
Site: Kemper Arena (16,200)
Officials: Referee: David Cutaia; Umpire: Doug Wilson; Head Linesman: Kavin McGrath; Line Judge: Darrel Leftwich; Back Judge: Rich Wilborn;
Supervisor: Bob Mantooth

Series Record: This will mark the first time these two teams have faced each other (0-0).

Coaches:
Skip Foster, AW - 3rd season (16-18)
Kevin Porter, KCB - 1st season (0-2)

Radio: KVET, AM 1300, The ZONE with Kent Koen and Glyn Milburn (Tape Delayed)

TUNE IN
The Austin Wranglers will be televised on FSN Southwest for five games in 2006. Fans can check out other AFL action around the League Sundays on NBC.
LISTEN UP
All 16 Wranglers games can be heard on KVET (1300, The Zone) with Erin Hogan, Bucky Godbolt and Kevin Dunn at home and Kent Koen with Glyn Milburn on the road.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE CELEBRATES 20 SEASONS
All throughout the 2006 season, the AFL will highlight the 20 greatest players, highlights, moments and games in League history. The 20th season concludes in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year when ArenaBowl XX is played at The Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday, June 11. Follow the 20th season action on arenafootball.com and for ArenaBowl XX info, ArenaBowl.com.

THIS WEEK IN WRANGLERS FOOTBALL
The Wranglers have begun the 2006 season with two spectacular wins over the Las Vegas Gladiators at home and the Arizona Rattlers on the road, in the first game of a five-game road trip. The Rattlers couldn't stop the Wranglers rushing attack, which scored five rushing touchdowns for the second consecutive week. Looking to Sunday's game against the Kansas City Brigade, the Wranglers have never faced the expansion franchise, but they do know many of the players well. Several of the New Orleans VooDoo players were allocated to Kansas City including standouts like Andy Kelly, B.J Cohen and Chris Pointer. With the Wranglers at 2-0 and the Brigade at 0-2, Sunday's game should prove to be an intense battle as it is the Wranglers first game against a Southern Division opponent.

WRANGLERS TIES TO KANSAS CITY

Several of the Austin Wranglers players and coaches have distinct ties to the Kansas City area including the states of Kansas and Missouri.
-Head Coach Skip Foster: Attended Missouri Western State College...Served as an assistant to his father Dick Foster for four seasons at Coffeyville Junior College...Took over coaching duties from father at Coffeyville...Both won national championships.
-Michael Foster, Secondary Coach, Special Teams, Director of Pro Scouting: Played football at the University of Kansas from 1973-74 and graduated from there...Began coaching career at Archbishop O'Hara in Kansas City from 1977-80...Served as an assistant coach at Coffeyville with cousin Skip Foster...Also coached at Central Missouri State and Southwest Missouri State.
-Kevin Nickerson: Attended Central Missouri State...Hometown is Kansas City and attended Central High School.
-Henry Bryant: Attended Kansas State U -Angel Rubio: Attended S.W. Missouri State -Ramon Richardson: Hometown of Kansas City

WRANGLERS START 2-0

The 2006 season doesn't mark the first time the Wranglers have begun the season 2-0. Dating back to their inaugural season in 2004, the Wranglers began the season 2-0, beating divisional opponents in Orlando and Tampa Bay. So how did the Wranglers do in their third game, they lost by two points to the Colorado Crush in Denver, 37-35.

PLAYER TIDBITS

OL/DL Tom Briggs has played for 10 years in the Arena Football League. Starting his rookie season with the Anaheim Piranhas and Portland Forest Dragons (which became the Oklahoma Wranglers), Briggs has also played with Dallas Desperados. In 2003 with the Desperados, Briggs was named AFL Lineman of the Year, earned first team All-Arena and All-Ironman Team honors and led the AFL in sacks. Briggs joined the Wranglers for its inaugural season where he was selected to the All-Arena Football League first team. Last season, he anchored an offensive line that only allowed four sacks all season, which was a league best.

DS Damon Mason is the second-most veteran AFL player on the team.
With his remarkable 47 return yards from his two interceptions in the Wranglers season opener, he broke the team's overall interception return yardage mark. In his second game with the Wranglers, he rebroke his interception return yard mark with 59 yards and set a new career game-high with three interceptions in one game. He was named the AFL's Defensive Player of the Week along with earning this honor with ArenaFan and Touchdown Ink. The AFLWA named Mason their Player of the Week as well for his performance. Mason had a record-breaking season in 2005 with the Grand Rapids Rampage and Orlando Predators, having broke the league's all-time tackle mark and became the first player to reach 700 tackles on his career. He has played with the Orlando Predators, Carolina Cobras, and Las Vegas Gladiators (New Jersey Gladiators).

OL/DL Aaron Humphrey is undoubtedly one of the Wranglers stars, but he still bleeds burnt orange. This former University of Texas football player spent his off-season as an assistant conditioning coach for the University of Texas Athletics program. His Longhorn work forced him to miss the first day of Wranglers Training Camp - but for good reason. He was on the sidelines of the Rose Bowl where his alma mater won the national championship.

OS Derrick Lewis had a spectacular first game in his AFL career. Coming from the NFL (Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints), Lewis was eager to play in the Arena Football League. Lewis scored the first touchdown in the AFL's 20th anniversary season and the first touchdown of the Austin Wranglers third season. He had five receptions for 69 yards. On a more personal note, Lewis was born and raised in New Orleans and was effected by Hurricane Katrina, losing everything in the storm. His wife and five children were forced to leave New Orleans and move around like many others. Lewis is grateful for his opportunity to continue his football career here, while having work to support his family in this troubling time.

FIRST GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Five rushing touchdowns in the Wranglers first game of 2006 against the Las Vegas Gladiators is a new single-game team record. Quarterback John Fitzgerald rushed into the end zone for two scores, while both fullback/linebackers Dane Krager and Henry Bryant added touchdowns. Wide receiver/defensive back Sedrick Robinson also ran in for one score, only giving the Wranglers two passing scores for the game. The Wranglers plan to utilize their running attack in the primarily passing game this season, behind the legs of these four players.

SECOND GAME HIGHLIGHS

Austin is number one in the AFL in rushing following their five touchdown rushing performance, their second in just two games in the 2006 season. Dane Krager led the team with 22 yards and three touchdowns. John Fitzgerald and Josh White both added rushing scores.
Damon Mason propels Wranglers to a win with a three interception performance. He tied his 2005 mark in just two games with the Wranglers. This marks his fifth interception in two games in a Wranglers uniform. He is one of the keys to the Wranglers stronger defensive performance this season.

OWNERSHIP

Among the Austin Wranglers owners is Glyn Milburn, considered one of the most impressive return men in NFL history. Milburn spent a total of 10 years in the league playing for the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers.

During his tenure in the NFL, Milburn received numerous accolades including Pro Bowl appearances in 1995 and 1999, AFC Special Teams Player of the Year, All Pro Selection and a plaque in the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.

When he retired, Milburn was third on the NFL's all-time kickoff return yardage list with 9,788 yards, behind only Brian Mitchell and Mel Gray. Prior to his NFL career, Milburn was an All-Pac 10 player, playing for Stanford University where he holds the university's career record for punt return touchdowns with four. Graduating with a degree in public policy, Milburn was also an academic All-American at Stanford.

PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY

Eastside Story Project: FB/LB Henry Bryant- one of the Wranglers' top fullback/linebackers, spent the summer working with Austin's Eastside Story Project, a youth enrichment program that is part of the Austin Police Department. Eastside Story is designed to motivate Austin-area youth and provide a safe environment where children can go after school to receive guidance and academic assistance.

The program is also designed to create more well-rounded individuals by offering training sessions on themes such as "Family," "Teamwork," and "Leadership," among others, which alternate from month to month.

"It's a good feeling when you see the smiles on the faces of the kids," said Bryant. "I see a lot of myself in them since I came from a similar background." Several of the kids desire to be professional athletes and look to players like Bryant as role models.

Operation Blue Santa: WR/DB Greg Brown, FB/LB Henry Bryant, FB/LB Dane Krager and WR/DB Shawndel Tucker helped deliver toys over the holidays to deserving children through Operation Blue Santa.

AUSTIN WRANGLERS BUILD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOUSE: To kick off the Wranglers third season and to commemorate the AFL's 20th anniversary, the Austin Wranglers built an Austin Habitat for Humanity Home in December.

Called a "Home for the Holidays," the home was built in just 9 working days, thanks to the hard work of many Austin Wranglers players, coaches, front-office staff and cheerleaders.

It had special meaning for WR/DB P.J. Winston whose home as a child was a Habitat for Humanity home.

AUSTIN WRANGLERS FOUNDATION

The Austin Wranglers have established the Austin Wranglers Foundation to give Wranglers players, coaches and cheerleaders opportunities to provide mentoring, community service and leadership for Central Texas youth and build partnerships throughout the Central Texas community.

The Austin Wranglers Foundation will collaborate with existing non-profit organizations providing support in three main areas:
- physical health (nutrition and fitness),
- education (graduation rates and literacy) and
- helping youth make good life choices (alcohol & drug prevention and community involvement).

Founding members include former NFL player Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, Austin Mayor Will Wynn, Round Rock Mayor Nyle Maxwell, Austin City Council Member Raul Alvarez.

The Wranglers Foundation has already supported Youth InterACTIVE, a non-profit group that provides after-school fitness programs.

2 punters added; is Sander on way out?

2006-02-08T04:54:00.000-08:00

At a very young age Ryan Dutton found out he was capable of punting at Lambeau Field.
Dutton, an Oshkosh native, participated in four Punt, Pass & Kick competitions at Lambeau Field when he was a child. He won three times and finished second once.

“I did pretty well,” Dutton said. “Obviously, growing up in Oshkosh, I was a huge Packers fan, so getting to do anything at Lambeau Field was pretty exciting for me.”

The Packers announced the signing of Dutton and six other players to reserve/future contracts on Tuesday. Dutton was with the Cleveland Browns during the 2004 training camp and was with the Seattle Seahawks during training camp in 2005 but never made the active roster. Dutton is thrilled to have the chance to play for the team that he rooted for as a child.
“It’s been tough the last few seasons because I feel like I’ve been close,” Dutton said. “But everything happens for a reason, so we’ll just see what happens.”

Dutton will have plenty of competition in attempting to earn a spot on the roster. The Packers also announced the signing of Jon Ryan on Tuesday. Ryan led the Canadian Football League last season with a 50.6 gross average and a 42.3 net average for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Ryan had considerable interest from other teams, including the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals, but opted to sign with the Packers.

With the addition of Ryan and Dutton, it is looking like B.J. Sander’s days in Green Bay could be numbered. After a solid start in 2005, Sander struggled during the second half of the season. Sander was 30th in the NFL with a gross average of 39.2 yards and was 34th in net average with a 34.5 average. He missed the final two games with a bruised knee. With a salary cap number of $530,906, Sander will have to be significantly better than Ryan, Dutton and Ryan Flinn if he’s going to be the Packers’ punter again in 2006.

“You’ve got to be patient with punters,” Packers special teams coordinator Mike Stock said last week. “But you’ve got to make sure you have the right guy in there.”
Stock may be the biggest reason why Dutton wound up signing with the Packers.
“He tried to sign me when he was with St. Louis,” Dutton said. “It didn’t work out, but I’m definitely familiar with him.”

One other thing Dutton has working to his advantage is his experience as a holder, a job that Sander struggled with at times last season. Dutton held in NFL Europe last season and in college when he played quarterback at NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato.
“He played quarterback in college and played baseball in college,” said Mark Mersel, Dutton’s agent. “He has very good hands.”

Dutton said he will be in Green Bay on Thursday to work out for Stock. Then, it will be determined if Dutton will return to NFL Europe, which Dutton said appears “very, very likely.”
“I don’t know if the recent signings will change that, but it certainly looks that way,” Dutton said. “The good thing this year is that the season starts earlier, so I would only miss one of the (three) minicamps.”

In addition to the two punters, the Packers also signed guard Pete Traynor, wide receiver Willie Quinnie, defensive tackle Jerome Nichols, tight end Thomas Gafford and center Wayne Lucier.
Lucier is the only player among that group with significant NFL experience. Lucier started for much of the 2003 and 2004 seasons at center and guard for the New York Giants but was cut at the end of training camp last year and spent 2005 out of football.

Traynor, a Milton native, has played the last three seasons with the Quad City Steamwheelers of arenafootball2.

Quinnie has spent time with the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders over the last three seasons but has never made an active roster.

Dylan B. Tomlinson writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at dtomlinson@postcrescent.com.

FIRST QUARTER | SEAHAWKS 3, STEELERS 0

2006-02-07T00:24:00.000-08:00

It couldn't get much more uneventful than this, as both teams struggled in the early going. At least the Seahawks moved the ball. They recorded all five first downs in the quarter, mostly by eschewing NFL MVP running back Shaun Alexander to throw to Darrell Jackson. Seattle called for passes on 11 of its first 14 plays, connecting on five with Jackson, who tied the Super Bowl record for catches in the first quarter held by Buffalo's Andre Reed. The Steelers became only the third team to finish the first quarter of a Super Bowl without a first down.

KEY PLAY: Jackson would have had another reception, but an apparent 16-yard touchdown catch was nullified when he was called for pushing off in the end zone. Seattle settled for a 47-yard field goal by Josh Brown, the only score of the quarter.

KEY STAT: Four, the number of penalties in the quarter, hampering both offenses. Pittsburgh was called for two false starts – including one on its first offensive play – and Seattle was hit with a holding call and the above-mentioned offensive pass interference.

NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: Steelers safety Troy Polamalu made one tackle, but otherwise had an extremely quiet quarter. It wasn't evident that his ankle was bothering him. His backup, Mike Logan, injured his knee, leaving Pittsburgh thin in the secondary.

SECOND QUARTER STEELERS 7, SEAHAWKS 3

Another penalty opened the second quarter, a holding call that negated what would have been a 34-yard punt return by Seattle's Peter Warrick. The Steelers finally got their first first down on a pass to Antwaan Randle El with 11:25 to go in the quarter, then got their second on the next play, an 18-yard end-around by Hines Ward. Just when it appeared the Steelers might actually cross midfield, a Ben Roethlisberger pass was underthrown and intercepted by Michael Boulware. But the Steelers offense seemed to be stirring, and on its next possession drove 59 yards for the lone touchdown of the half, a 1-yard dive by Roethlisberger.

KEY PLAY: Roethlisberger, under pressure, rolled to his left and looked as if he were going to take off. But he pulled up, buying time before finding Ward open at the 3-yard line for a 37-yard completion that set up the Steelers' TD.

KEY STAT: After not making a first down in the first quarter, the Steelers had six in the second.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: Jackson again came close to a TD for the Seahawks, this time in the final minute of the quarter. His over-the-shoulder catch at the 1 was ruled incomplete because he got only one foot inbounds. And it wasn't the best use of the clock by the Seahawks on that drive. They let precious seconds tick off and were forced to try a 54-yard field goal that was no good.

THIRD QUARTER STEELERS 14, SEAHAWKS 10
Unlike the first half, there were fireworks right from the start in the third quarter. On the second play of the half, Steelers running back Willie Parker burst through the line over right tackle and sped 75 yards for a touchdown, the longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history, to put the Steelers up 14-3. Pittsburgh was looking to take complete command of the game on its next possession, driving to the 7 when Seahawks cornerback Kelly Herndon stepped in front of a pass intended for Cedrick Wilson at the 4 and returned it 76 yards, setting up a Seattle touchdown three plays later.

KEY PLAY: While Parker's long TD run was huge, the Herndon interception was a potential 14-point swing and kept Seattle in the game. Instead of the Seahawks falling behind 21-3, the pick set up their first touchdown, making it 14-10. It was the longest interception return in Super Bowl history.

KEY STAT: 10, the number of seconds it took Pittsburgh to score in the second half and extend its lead from four points to 11.

NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: The injuries started to mount on the defensive side of the ball for the Seahawks. They lost safety Marquand Manuel in the first half, then cornerback Andre Dyson got hurt in the third quarter and tackle Rocky Bernard pulled a hamstring.

FOURTH QUARTER STEELERS 21, SEAHAWKS 10

Another interception near the end zone – this one by the Steelers – and a touchdown pass by Randle El made the difference for Pittsburgh. The interception was by Ike Taylor, thwarting a long Seattle drive that could have given the Seahawks the lead. Four plays later, Parker handed off to Randle El on a reverse, and Randle El found Ward cutting across the field for a 43-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-10. From there, the Steelers' Jerome Bettis took over, eating up yardage and time to spell the end for the Seahawks.

KEY PLAY: The Matt Hasselbeck interception was similar to the third-quarter Roethlisberger interception, at least as far as the situation goes. Trailing 14-10, Seattle was at the Steelers' 19 after starting the drive from its 2, threatening to take the lead. But after being pushed back by a holding penalty and a sack, the Seahawks faced third-and-18 when Taylor picked off a pass at the 5 and returned it 24 yards. A penalty on Hasselbeck for cutting Taylor added 15 more yards.

KEY STATS: Jackson's numbers in the first quarter: five catches, 50 yards; his numbers in the final three quarters: 0 catches, 0 yards.

NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: More questionable clock management by the Seahawks ruined what little chance they had for a miracle at the end. Needing two scores, they wasted precious time.

Vikings want Culpepper back next season

2006-02-07T00:17:00.000-08:00

If QB Daunte Culpepper isn't with the Vikings next season, it won't be because the team doesn't want him. Coach Brad Childress wants Culpepper back, and the team is intent on keeping him. Childress has liked Culpepper since he saw him work out for the Eagles when Culpepper was coming out of Central Florida in 1999. Childress ranked Culpepper as the second-best quarterback in that draft, ahead of Tim Couch, Akili Smith and Cade McNown but behind Donovan McNabb. Now Childress wants to see whether he can help Culpepper become more consistent. The only way Culpepper will not be in Minnesota is if Culpepper doesn't want to be there. . . .

Deltha O'Neal may be in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl this week, but he wasn't the Bengals' most consistent cornerback this season. Tory James was. O'Neal is good -- he tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions. But Bengals coaches thought James played better on an every-down basis. Opponents threw more passes at O'Neal. In fact, he could have had 15 interceptions but had five drops. . . .

It's little wonder Mike Mularkey resigned as coach of the Bills, given owner Ralph Wilson's indication that he plans to be more involved in running the team. Wilson, according to former Bills employees, already is way too involved. During games, he sends messages to the coaching box complaining about calls and pointing out trends. Wilson also is known to pester the head coach and general manager, taking up hours and hours of their workweeks with phone calls. . . .
ADVERTISEMENT The Broncos have legitimate interest in Dolphins RB Ricky Williams even though Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell both played well last season. The thinking is coach Mike Shanahan would rather have one great back carry the load than divvy it up among multiple backs. And Shanahan always has thought Williams would be a great fit in the Broncos' offense. . . .

The Browns need some pass-rushing help and have some cash and cap space to find it. The problem is there aren't many pass rushers available. One player who could be a good match for Cleveland is 49ers OLB Julian Peterson, who is about to become a free agent. He could be a nice fit in coach Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense, and Peterson should be a much better player in 2006 than he was in 2005, when he still showed the aftereffects of an Achilles' tendon injury. . . .

The Titans are thrilled CB Pacman Jones has made a commitment to be part of the offseason workout program. Jones needs guidance in three areas: conditioning, technique and off-the-field maturity. The team will try to take Jones back to square one. He missed all of training camp, and it showed. Late in the season, Jones appeared worn out. Coaches also will stress that he must improve his tackling. . . .

The generally accepted wisdom is teams improve at defending the run by practicing hitting and tackling. But the Bears credit their improved run defense to their walkthrough practices, of all things. They go through an unusually detailed and tedious walkthrough three times a week. In the course of 30 minutes, the Bears run up to 50 plays against every rushing front they anticipate seeing. The first rep for each play is for the benefit of defensive linemen. The second rep is for linebackers and defensive backs.

Pittsburgh plans parade to honor Super Bowl champions

2006-02-07T00:12:00.000-08:00

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers will celebrate their Super Bowl victory with a parade through downtown Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Mellon Arena, the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. It will end at Point State Park, across the river from Heinz Field.

The Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 on Sunday for their fifth Super Bowl championship since the team was founded in 1933.
Mayor Bob O'Connor's office said that Steelers' players, coaches and owners will participate in the parade.

"Tomorrow's parade will be a great opportunity for this region to honor this amazing team and the (Dan) Rooney family for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back to the City of Champions," Allegheny county executive Dan Onorato said.

If the pep rallies of the last two weeks are any indication, thousands of Steelers fans are likely to attend. Two large pep rallies, including one at Heinz Field, were held leading up to the Super Bowl in Detroit.

Detroit, NFL super-prepared for snowstorm

2006-02-05T05:58:00.000-08:00

With wind gusts up to 40 mph and 5 to 8 inches of snow forecast, snow removal crews girded for a winter storm on Saturday as thousands of fans headed downtown on Super Bowl eve.
About 250 state and local plows hit the roads in Detroit and throughout Wayne and Oakland counties, said Ron Brundidge, manager of the Detroit Department of Public Works Street Maintenance Division.

Hundreds of city workers and volunteers were ready to work through the night to clear sidewalks so fans can get to today's game at Ford Field, which has a steel roof.

'We're not worried,'' Brundidge said, pointing to a thick notebook outlining Super Bowl snow plans. ''One thing that puts us at ease is the fact that we've been preparing for this for so long.''
City officials, the Super Bowl host committee and the NFL have been talking about snow removal for about a year, Brundidge said.

They'll have sufficient resources to handle the snowfall, including shovel-toting volunteer athletes from Wayne State, he said.

DOG-GONE: Rick LeBeau grew up watching football and would like to be at the Super Bowl to root for his father, Dick. Instead, the son of Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator will be dogging it -- with his two prize English toy spaniels.

''None of my family seems to understand,'' Rick LeBeau kidded.

A baritone in the Pittsburgh Opera, LeBeau has been in the dog-show business since 1989. He has champions Baritone and Robby at an event this weekend in Wildwood, N.J.

''The entry date was several weeks ago, before we knew we were going to the Super Bowl,'' he said. ''Dad called the other day to see if I wanted a ticket, but I told him I couldn't go.''
Dick LeBeau is coaching in his fourth Super Bowl and trying to win his first ring. His 45-year-old son lives in Pittsburgh, features a flapping Steelers flag on his Web site and went to about half their home games this season.

''I just wish I could be in two places at once,'' Rick said.

SUPER BOWL (OR) BUST: Customs officials seized $26,000 from three people who were trying to enter Detroit from Canada to buy Super Bowl tickets.

The trio pulled up to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection booths at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel on Friday morning, Customs spokesman Ron Smith said.

Federal law requires people to declare cash they are bringing into the country if it's more than $10,000.

When asked if they were bringing in any money, the three said they each had less than $10,000. Upon further questioning, the trio admitted that the $26,000 was from a business and was divided up to avoid hitting the $10,000 declaration limit, Smith said.

Officers seized the money and filed civil charges against the three. They can get the cash back if they can document its source, Smith said.

PAYTON FOR PEYTON: Peyton Manning learned well from his two remarkable role models.
His father, Archie, was active in the community during 11 years as quarterback in New Orleans, where he still lives and operates a business.

And during his father's first trip to the Pro Bowl in 1980, Peyton had quite a baby sitter: Bears famed running back Walter Payton took the 4-year-old to the beach.

''Walter had me out the whole time on a catamaran,'' Manning said. ''I felt safe, and my parents obviously were relieved because they knew Walter was taking great care of me.''
Manning is adding to that legacy of caring for others.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback received the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award on Friday, recognizing his work with children and Hurricane Katrina victims. Payton died of bile duct cancer in 1999, and his widow, Connie, presented the award.

''I challenge each and every player in the National Football League to consider the impact they have just because they play the game of football, then go do something about it,'' Manning said. ''There's more to the game.''

Manning set up the PeyBack Foundation to help communities around Indianapolis and has worked with a national nonprofit group that helps abused and neglected children. After Katrina, he and brother Eli, the Giants quarterback, flew to Louisiana and delivered 30,000 pounds of supplies.
AP

Jets Announce Short List of Potential Sites for New State of the Art Facility

2006-02-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

The New York Jets announced Thursday a short list of potential sites for their new state-of-the-art practice facility in New Jersey.

The short list, in alphabetical order, includes:

Community: Berkeley Heights
County: Union
Location: Connell Drive and Valley Road Site
Condition: Corporate Campus

Community: Florham Park
County: Morris
Location: Exxon Site near Park Avenue Site
Condition: Former Exxon Headquarters

Community: Jersey City
County: HudsonLocation: Caven Point Road and Chapel Avenue Site
Condition: Warehouse and partnership with adjoining recreational facility

Community: Millburn
County: Essex
Location: Parsonage Hill Road and John F. Kennedy ParkwaySite
Condition: Woodlands owned by East Orange WaterWorks

Community: Wood-Ridge
County: Bergen
Location: Woodridge Industrial Park; Passaic Avenue and South Main StreetSite
Condition: Former Curtiss-Wright Factory

The Jets have agreed to relocate their practice facility from Long Island to New Jersey as part of an historic agreement to build a new joint stadium with the Giants in the Meadowlands. As part of that agreement, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority agreed to acquire 20 acres for each team to build new training complexes in New Jersey. While the Giants new training facility will remain on the Meadowlands complex, the Jets training facility will be relocated outside the complex at a site to be designated by the Jets in conjunction with the NJSEA.

As the new headquarters for the Jets, the practice facility will house all football operations and most corporate functions. Relocating the practice facility from Long Island to New Jersey will generate more than $10 million annually in new tax revenue for the state.

“We have been heartened by the genuine interest of so many towns to welcome us as their neighbors,” said Jets President Jay Cross. “After conducting a comprehensive search which took us to more than 40 sites across New Jersey, we feel that these five most closely meet our specific needs. Over the next several weeks we will further evaluate each of them. Wherever we end up, we look forward to becoming active and engaged New Jersey citizens.”

In addition to the new state and local tax revenues generated by the practice facility, the Jets are committed to community involvement through the support of civic charities as well as implementing established Jets initiatives to fight hunger and improve education and fitness. The Jets also support local football teams with coaching and kids clinics, local Coach of the Week Awards and free community access to training camp during the summer months.

“We are thrilled that the Jets are relocating their training facilities from Long Island to New Jersey," said Carl Goldberg, chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. “Not only will New Jersey gain a corporation committed to community involvement, but our state will reap significant economic benefits from the tax revenues generated by the practice and training facilities.”

“Over the past four months, the Jets have thoroughly evaluated more than forty potential sites for their training facility,” added George Zoffinger, President of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. “We are excited that their new home will soon be designated so that we can formally welcome them to New Jersey."

Four months ago, the New York Jets exclusively retained Cohn Real Estate LLP to conduct a comprehensive site search in northern New Jersey. Over the past few months, the New York Jets and Cohn Real Estate have visited more than 40 sites in Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Union, Passaic, Somerset, Middlesex and Monmouth counties to find a location which best meets the unusual needs of the football team.

The practice facility will include a 110,000 square foot building housing 100 employees, three outdoor football fields, and one indoor football field.

The sites were evaluated on the following criteria:

· At least 20 acres available with minimal impediments to development
· Located within a 20 mile radius of the Meadowlands and Newark Airport, yet accessible to Manhattan
· Proximity to diversity of housing stock, hotel accommodations, and appropriate medical facilities

Over the next several weeks, the Jets and NJSEA will continue to meet with the site owners and local officials in each community to perform further due diligence on each site. The Jets expect to make a final determination by March 1, 2006.

Carucci's pick: Steelers in a close one

2006-02-04T16:45:00.000-08:00

My pick for Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh 27, Seattle 24.

1. The Steelers will be able to contain running back Shaun Alexander.
2. The Seahawks will not be able to handle the Steelers' blitz.
3. The Steelers will succeed with a balanced offense that will, once again, see Ben Roethlisberger use the passing game to create running room for Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis.
4. The Seahawks won't be able to generate enough offense to overcome the Steelers' ability to take a quick lead and then control the clock the rest of the way.

My projected key performers:
Joey Porter, outside linebacker. He is more than an outspoken player who seemingly searches for a reason to be angry even when it isn't there. He is a tremendous player, and has been absolutely on fire throughout the postseason. Porter is relentless in pursuit and has the athletic ability to consistently make plays in the open field. He makes the most of his quick feet and second effort, and does an excellent job of taking away cutback lanes. Porter also is a superb pass rusher from the edge.

Troy Polamalu, safety. Presuming his sore ankle doesn't bother him too much, he will be a difference-maker in the outcome. He is one of the very best defensive players in the game, and his presence should do plenty to consistently disrupt the Seahawks offense. Polamalu can blitz, play man coverage, is good in the underneath zone, and shows excellent speed and range to play in deep coverage. And he will do them all in the same game. The challenge for the quarterback is determining when he is going to do what, which is especially difficult because one of Polamalu's greatest talents is faking the blitz and then suddenly dropping into coverage.

Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback. His development as a passer in only one year is astounding. Rookies at his position rarely show that sort of improvement in Year 2. Not that Roethlisberger was that bad as a rookie, but he did have a meltdown in the playoffs. In this year's postseason, he has performed like a seasoned veteran. He has become increasingly efficient in his decision making and is keeping his mistakes to a minimum.

Alan Faneca, offensive guard, and Jeff Hartings, center. Faneca gains an immediate edge over most defenders by setting up quickly and getting his hands under their pads. He has the lower-body strength to move the pile in the running game, but also is fast enough to pull and trap. Hartings is as technically sound as any center in the league, taking good angles on blocks and keeping his feet under him most of the time. He plays with a nasty streak and is very physical at the point of attack.

Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker, running backs. Super Bowl XL has been all-Bettis-all-the-time because of his Detroit homecoming and the fact this will likely be his final game. Parker starts and has been getting most of the carries, but his outside speed probably won't be very effective against a defense that has linebackers with tremendous speed and range. Bettis' power-running style figures to have a greater impact because the Steelers can use it to wear down the Seahawks' smallish defensive front.

Manning wins Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Awar

2006-02-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, saluting a player's charity and off-the-field work, as well as his accolades on the field.

Manning set up the PeyBack Foundation in 1999, an organization which helps struggling youths establish a more successful future.

The PeyBack Foundation provides leadership and advancement opportunities for kids through recognized community-based programs.

The foundation has donated more than $900,000 to organizations in Indiana, Tennessee [where he played collegiately] and Louisiana [where he grew up].

In 1970, Johnny Unitas, a Hall of Famer and quarterback for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers, was the first player to receive the award.

The NFL renamed its Man of the Year Award after Payton shortly after his death in 1999.

NFL Global Junior Championship SCOREs with SportStat Wireless Technology

2006-02-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

SportStat's patented SCORE (Statistics Created Online Real-time Everywhere) technology provided coaches and parents of the world's top 180 teenage football players access to real-time play-by- play video during the NFL Global Junior Championship held in metro Detroit at the Pontiac Silverdome the week of Jan 22 - 29. SportStat is a Detroit-based sports technology company founded by technology developer and CEO Johnny Richardson and former Detroit Lions All-Pro receiver Herman Moore, SportStat president and COO, who also served as honorary chairman of the event.

"We were delighted that fans of the NFL Global Junior Championship were able to follow the games through SCORE technology," said tournament organizer Patrick Steenberge. "The ability to watch the most exciting plays via a cell phone was the perfect complement to the other forms of live streaming we were able to provide from the Silverdome.

"The nature of our event means that families from five different countries and three continents take an avid interest in the action. That can now be transferred from the field to their phone or PDA thanks to SCORE."

The NFL Global Junior Championship is an annual event played in the Super Bowl host city and showcases 180 of the top teenage football players from around the world during Super Bowl week. The All-Stars participating in the event hailed from Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico and the U.S.A.

SportStat's SCORE wireless technology application package provides coaches, scouts, parents, schools, students, alumni and sports enthusiasts with the ability to capture and access real-time play-by-play video and information from games at the professional, college, high school or league level. "We're pleased with the success of SCORE in the NFL Global Junior Championship and are looking forward to the results the technology will yield in the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference's basketball tournament," said Johnny Richardson, developer of the SCORE technology.

About SportStat

SportStat, LLC is a sports technology company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan that produces wireless, media-rich content applications and services. For more information, please visit http://www.sportstatz.net/

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:
Website: http://www.sportstatz.net/

NFL, players’ union making little progress

2006-02-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is not expecting any sudden breakthroughs with the players’ union on a contract extension.

We’re not making the kind of progress we need to be making, he said Friday during his annual state of the league address. “I don’t think negotiations are going very well.

The collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2007 season. But under the current contract, there would be no salary cap in 2007, and NFL Players Association executive Gene Upshaw insists if the cap disappears then, it won’t come back.

While avoiding the strong rhetoric uttered by Upshaw earlier this week, Tagliabue did not sound too optimistic about getting a deal done before the NFL meetings begin March 25 in Orlando, Fla.

“I do think there needs to be an outreach and more reality on both sides,” Tagliabue said. “There needs to be a positive dose of reality on both sides of the table. To some degree, positions are hardening on both sides when they shouldn’t be.”

The league and the owners have been negotiating for more than a year on an extension to the contract first agreed upon in 1993. An added element to what usually have been relatively smooth talks: owners are split on how to divide revenues that will go to the players.

High-revenue teams who make more money from sources other than television and ticket sales are balking at contributing the same percentage of their income as low-revenue franchises.

Upshaw set March 9 to begin consulting players on legal action if no deal has been reached. Tagliabue doesn’t have such an immediate sense of urgency, but he’s not loafing on the issue, either.
“A lot of things get done at the 11th hour and 55th minute,” Tagliabue said. “I don’t know if we’ll get something done by the league meetings.”

Upshaw talked Thursday about potential legal action and even a decertification of the union. Tagliabue conceded those were possibilities, but “I don’t think we’ll be in litigation or decertification.”

The commissioner also noted that while the “Rooney rule” that requires interviewing minority candidates for coaching and front office jobs is working, no minorities got any of the eight openings filled thus far. Oakland has yet to hire a new coach.

“I thought we were getting beyond the stereotypes and these men were accepted as coaches, not as minority coaches,” Tagliabue said. “I thought it would carry over to the hiring process and it didn’t.

“We all understand the need to be aggressive to blitz this issue. We need to be measured by what we do and achieve, and not by what we say.”

Tagliabue also:

reiterated league support for keeping the Saints in New Orleans, saying the commitment is multiyear. He hopes all eight of their regular-season games next season will be played at the Superdome. “The team coming back and the Superdome coming back can be a magnet to attract other businesses,” he said.

virtually ruled out another international regular-season game in 2006. Although the 49ers-Cardinals game in Mexico City last October was a huge success, “right now it would be difficult to play a regular-season game outside the United States in this upcoming season.”

expressed his support for instant replay as an officiating tool, even as he acknowledged the botched reversal in the Pittsburgh-Indianapolis playoff game. “It’s perfectly clear that in an overwhelming number of cases, it eliminates mistaken calls and gives officiating crews the chance to see things they do not see in real time.”

saw only expansion to Los Angeles anytime soon, even though it would give the NFL an odd number of franchises. “To me, the only possibility in the foreseeable future for an expansion team would be Los Angeles,” he said. “I could not see a decision with two expansion teams.”

High-revenue teams who make more money from sources other than television and ticket sales are balking at contributing the same percentage of their income as low-revenue franchises.
Upshaw set March 9 to begin consulting players on legal action if no deal has been reached. Tagliabue doesn’t have such an immediate sense of urgency, but he’s not loafing on the issue, either.

“A lot of things get done at the 11th hour and 55th minute,” Tagliabue said. “I don’t know if we’ll get something done by the league meetings.”

NFL Playoff Preview: Steelers At Colts

2006-02-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

This weekend, they'd like to be the Pittsburgh Stealers.

No crushing pressure, no huge expectations. Sneaking into the NFL playoffs as a wild card from the AFC North, Bill Cowher's team hopes to hang around with the Indianapolis Colts, stave off any Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison thunderbolts, eat up the clock, and then ... who knows?
"Nobody is going to give us a chance," Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Kendall Simmons said earlier this week, "and I know we're going to take advantage of it."

Stranger things have happened. True, the Indianapolis Colts jumped on the Steelers early on Nov. 28 and rolled to a 26-7 victory. But a few things might be different this time.

1. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was coming off three weeks on the sidelines because of injuries in that game, and the rust showed -- he threw for only 133 yards and was intercepted twice. This time, he's back in the groove.

2. Pittsburgh has spent a lot of practice time preparing for the high-decibel chaos of the RCA Dome (Indy rock?), including working out a set of silent hand signals.

3. The Colts' cloak of invincibility has been frayed just a bit. Tony Dungy's squad was unbeaten when it faced Pittsburgh, but later lost at home to San Diego and on the road to Seattle.
On the other hand, as Roethlisberger pointed out: "It's going to take our A-plus game to beat their B-minus game."

Most disturbing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, perhaps, was their inability to run the ball for the first three quarters (29 yards on 17 carries) in their first meeting with Indy. Much of that was due to the ability of the quicker Colts' defenders (notably Dwight Freeney) to knife in behind the Steelers' forward wall and make plays in the backfield. And this week the Indianapolis Colts welcome back DT Corey Simon, a key player in its run defense, who had been sidelined for three weeks with an ankle injury.

These are two versatile teams with cerebral coaches, and viewers will see a lot of Peyton Manning fidgeting and checking off at the line of scrimmage as Steeler safety Troy Polamalu fidgets and checks off on the other side.

Pittsburgh may have the reputation as a no-nonsense, smash mouth outfit, but versatile wide receivers Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El, both former college quarterbacks, give Cowher a lot of potential for trick plays. In last week's victory over AFC North division winner Cincinnati, the Steelers burned the Bengals with a direct snap to Randle El, who pitched back to Roethlisberger, who hit a wide-open Cedrick Wilson for an easy touchdown.

In order to advance to the AFC finals, Pittsburgh will have to find some way to run the ball and set up Roethlisberger's passes. If the Steelers get behind early again, it's probably over -- Manning threw for 3,747 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Colts in 2005, Edgerrin James rushed for 1,560 and 13 scores, and receivers Harrison and Reggie Wayne both went over 1,000 yards.

"They're as good as it gets in the NFL," Roethlisberger said.
Was he being defeatist? Or just sneaky?

AN NFL PLAYGROUND: Experience gives fans the chance to enjoy the thrill of football drills

2006-02-02T05:24:00.000-08:00

Grown men ran around like boys, moms kicked field goals and kids dashed from game to game as volunteers cheered them on.

Football mayhem ruled the day.

It was the opening of the NFL Experience, the gigantic gridiron playground that has taken over Detroit's Cobo Center for the next four days.

Fans filled the 800,000 square feet of the experience, playing games with names like Beat the Blitz and the Visa End Zone Dance. There are also autograph and memorabilia stations set up.
Earlier in the day 2,000 Detroit schoolchildren were the first to test out the event.
Here are a few of the highlights -- and what you need to know if you go.

Reebok Run to Daylight:

The woman and the man with the fastest 40-yard dash time at the end of each day win Reebok running shoes.

Before the opening heat Wednesday when the NFL Experience opened to the public, Reebok employee Eric Jew of Los Angeles watched the first four contestants get ready to race.
"I've got some guys out here stretching -- they're serious about beating that time," Jew said.
Not in the running for a pair of shoes? Three-year-old Jack Stajos of Lansing might not have been the fastest runner in that opening heat -- but most likely was the cutest.

Snickers' the Drive:

Get ready to race in this one. Players are strapped to a bungee cord and have to run as far as they can down a bouncy chute. The goal is to put your Velcro football farther along a Velcro strip than your competitor's.

Catherine Nimes, 11, and her cousin Andrew Nimes, 10, both of Novi had this advice after they tried it out:

"Don't jump -- stay on your feet. And wear rubber socks," Catherine said.
"Lunge forward when you get as far as you can running," said Andrew.

Gatorade Training Camp:

The important thing on this football-style obstacle course is "to go crazy," said 25-year-old Mike Yahner of Clarkston.

He and buddy Ronnie Lech, 23, of Birmingham raced each other through the course.
"We're playing for beer," Yahner said. "We're keeping a tally on all the games."
Score one for Lech, who made it to the end first.

FedEx Quarterback Challenge:

Try throwing the ball through a moving hoop with simulated defenders trying to block your pass.

It's not as easy as it looks.

"Some people are pretty good, some are ... like me," said a volunteer overseeing the game.
The key, said Ty Coleman, 39, of Ypsilanti, is to throw the ball ahead of the hoop.
"I did pretty good," Coleman said. "You have to wait until it gets to the top -- that's where it's the easiest.

NFL the Big Move:

"I beat my own dad that's stronger than me," an elated Jonathan Riley, 7, of Lansing said after pushing a football bobsled in a race against his dad, James Riley Sr.
The game had one of the shorter lines Wednesday afternoon.

The important thing to remember is to "try to run as fast as you can," Jonathan said.
And make sure you're competing against someone you really want to beat.
Contact CECILIA OLECK at 248-351-3692 or coleck@freepress.com.

NFL: CHIEFS ANNOUNCE ALLOCATIONS OF 11 PLAYERS TO NFL EUROPE

2006-02-01T05:10:00.000-08:00

Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Monday that the club has allocated 11 players to the NFL Europe League for the 2006 season. That list is highlighted svitekstorby three players that saw time on the Chiefs active roster in 2005 – T Will Svitek, T Jeremy Parquet and LB Kris Griffin. Other 2006 NFLEL allocations by the Chiefs include: WR Nathaniel Curry, DT Arrion Dixon, DT Eddie Freeman, CB Gabriel Helms, QB James Kilian, CB Justin Perkins, DE Zach Ville and TE Willie Walden.

NFL Europe League clubs play a 10-game regular season schedule that kicks off on the weekend of March 18th. The top two teams in the standings will play in World Bowl XIV on Saturday, May 27th at LTU Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.

svitekstorjournalFor Kansas City, the NFLEL has served as a springboard to NFL success for a number of players, including Pro Bowlers WR Dante Hall (Scotland, 2001), LB Gary Stills (Frankfurt, 2001) and G Brian Waters (Berlin, 2000), as well as other starters such as LB Mike Maslowski (Barcelona, 1999).

Chiefs Fans - Be sure to check back on kcchiefs.com to follow the exploits of Chiefs T Will Svitek as he cuts his teeth on the NFL Europe circuit. Svitek will be keeping an online diary right here, chronicling his experiences at NFLEL training camp in Florida and during his 10-week season in Frankfurt, Germany. Born in Prague, Czech Republic, Svitek will surely have many stories to tell of the culture, food and caliber of football overseas. NFLEL training camp and Svitek’s Diary are scheduled to begin in mid-February.
source : noticias.info

Cat Stats: Postseason

2006-02-01T05:02:00.000-08:00

In the John Fox era (2002-2005), the Panthers are one of just four teams with multiple appearances in conference championship games. Philadelphia has three, while Carolina, New England and Pittsburgh each have two. Only eight teams total have played in a conference championship in that time frame.

With four postseason road victories, Fox trails only Tom Landry (seven) and Joe Gibbs (five) in that category.

*Steve Smith established an NFL record with 27 receptions in a postseason, surpassing the previous mark of 23 by Anthony Carter (Minnesota) in the 1987 postseason.

* Smith has averaged 105.6 yards receiving in seven career playoff games, the most receiving yards per game in postseason history (minimum five games).

* Smith became the first player in NFL playoff history to score a touchdown on a run, pass, and punt return in the same postseason.

* Smith joined Tony Nathan and Jerry Rice as the only players to post 10 or more receptions in consecutive postseason games after hauling in 10 at New York and 12 at Chicago.

* Quarterback Jake Delhomme has the third-highest postseason passer rating in NFL history. After seven games his 95.0 rating puts him behind only Bart Starr (104.8) and Joe Montana (95.6). Delhomme has completed 113-of-192 passes for 1,642 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions in those seven games.

* Kicker John Kasay has made 21-of-23 field goal attempts in the postseason, an accuracy rate of 91.3. That is second only to Martin Gramatica (91.7) in NFL history.

* With four consecutive road playoff victories, the Panthers tied an NFL record previously accomplished by Dallas from 1975 to 1981.

* Carolina has the second highest postseason winning percentage (.667) in the NFL at 6-3, trailing only the Baltimore Ravens (.714), who are 5-2.

* Carolina has made it to the NFC Championship in all three of its playoff appearances. The Panthers are the only NFL team that has won at least one game in all of its playoff appearances.

* The Panthers are the second-fastest expansion team to reach the conference championship game three times. Only Miami, which made its third conference championship appearance in its eighth season of existence, did so sooner. The Dolphins posted the NFL's only undefeated campaign in just their seventh season.

* The only other expansion team to even make the conference championship game three times is Tampa Bay, which took 27 years to reach its third game.

* The Panthers have scored 29 points just once in 176 regular season games, but strangely they have hit that number four times in seven postseason games under John Fox.

* The Panthers have worn their white uniforms in all nine postseason games.

Buyer beware when it comes to Super Bowl tickets

2006-02-01T05:01:00.000-08:00

Allen Stenger is a self-described "die-hard Steelers fan" that is desperate to surprise his aging father with tickets to Sunday's Super Bowl XL for his birthday.

"I was hoping to find someone willing to part with a ticket for close to face value," Stenger said.
But for days, the 28-year-old Washington, D.C. resident has scoured the Internet, able only to find offers ranging from $1,200 to more than $6,000 per seat for Sunday's game. It's more than what the young lawyer has to offer and far above the face value of $600.

But officials say the price tags aren't what consumers need to worry about. In the vast regions of cyber space, how should consumers like Stenger guard against the scores of scam artists who are out to make a profit at a desperate fan's expense?

"There are a couple red flags to look out for," said Jeffrey Steger, a trial attorney for the Department of Justice who is also hunting for tickets to the big game. "Anything that looks too good and reasonable has been a scam."

For example, he said, ticket sellers who require cash are usually bad news. It's easy for a credit card or an eBay PayPal user to file a complaint after a bad purchase, but there is little to no recourse for a buyer who pays with cash.

Also, look out for sellers who claim they are traveling overseas and need payment wired to them, Stenger said. And never buy from someone on the street or someone who won't contact you according to your terms.

Stenger said the more reasonable prices can be seen at online classified ad sites _ such as http://www.craigslist.com/, where he has posted a request for tickets. But those sites don't regulate sellers, so buyers run the risk of purchasing counterfeit tickets. Web sites that deal with licensed ticket brokers charge a service fee, but are more likely to guarantee a safe transaction.
TicketsNow.com is one such site, and Chief Marketing Officer Kenneth Dotson said background checks are run on every ticket broker who posts offers.

"It's impossible to get scammers on our Web site," Dotson said. "We don't allow just anyone to post. We only deal with the top 600 ticket brokers in the country, and they're all licensed."
The reselling of tickets is legal, even though their price tags might seem far-fetched. Michigan law states that licensed ticket brokers can sell tickets as long as they have written permission from the venue.

As long as sellers aren't setting up shop in front of Detroit's Ford Field on game day, according to the Michigan attorney general's office, licensed ticket brokers are free to charge what they think fans are willing to pay _ and you can bet they will.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the high resale prices show that the NFL's $600 tickets are fairly priced. He said the NFL expects many tickets will be resold, but that it cautions consumers against scalping and buying counterfeit tickets.

"We want to be reasonable about it, but we know fans are victimized," Aiello said. "We want fans to be careful. We want them at the Super Bowl."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)